Overview
- Economist Jens Südekum, an adviser to Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, proposes granting pensions based on a minimum number of contribution years rather than a fixed age.
- Federal Labour Minister Bärbel Bas and Chancellor Friedrich Merz voiced approval for exploring the concept in recent interviews.
- Leading critics, including DIW president Marcel Fratzscher and BDA’s Steffen Kampeter, warn the approach would deepen inequalities and disadvantage women and caregivers with interrupted careers.
- Under such a model, later workforce entrants such as many graduates could work until around 70, while early starters could retire sooner or accept deductions for early exit.
- The government plans to install a pension commission before Christmas to deliver reform options by mid‑2026, with current law still raising the standard age to 67 by 2031 and allowing retirement at 65 after 45 contribution years.