Overview
- Chancellor Olaf Scholz firmly rejected any proposal to increase the retirement age beyond the current plan of 67, citing the importance of voluntary work flexibility.
- Scholz highlighted the resilience of Germany's pension system, which has weathered past crises and currently operates with lower contribution rates than in 1998.
- He attributed the stabilization of pension contributions to higher employment rates and the influx of skilled workers through immigration.
- Scholz called for faster and more standardized recognition of foreign professional qualifications to address labor shortages and bolster the workforce.
- The remarks come ahead of Germany's February Bundestag election, where Scholz is campaigning as the SPD's candidate for Chancellor.