Government Stance on Pension Reform May Be Known by End of April
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Loading... - Zoey Thompson
- 21 Mar 2025
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The Luxembourg government is expected to present its views on the upcoming pension reform by the end of April, according to Social Security Minister Martine Deprez. This announcement follows a consultative process involving various expert groups and stakeholders.
Minister Deprez outlined a roadmap for the anticipated pension reform bill, indicating that a “final public event” will occur before the summer to clarify the government's position. Following this, the coalition government plans to prepare the first legislative texts over the summer. In the fall, these texts will be presented and discussed with social partners, including trade unions and employer representatives.
While the minister did not address the differing viewpoints of various political parties discussed in parliament, she emphasized the importance of the upcoming expert group meetings.
The next steps in the pension debate involve a series of meetings with expert groups. The first meeting is scheduled for Friday, focusing on the “adaptability” of the pension system. This discussion will explore how the system can be designed to be flexible and personalized to meet the realities of people's lives. Topics may include the feasibility of individual options for retirement age and contribution models.
The second expert group meeting will take place on April 4, concentrating on “fairness.” The goal is to ensure that the pension system remains grounded in intergenerational fairness and protects vulnerable groups from poverty in old age. Additionally, the meeting will address the diversification of funding sources for the pension system.
The final expert group meeting is set for April 24, where the focus will be on the sustainability of the pension system, aiming to promote its financial stability.
The expert groups include representatives from trade unions such as OGBL, LCGB, and CGFP, as well as the UEL employer lobby and representatives from all political parties and their youth organizations. Civil society groups, including ACEL, Youth Red, Movement ecologique, GERO, and CNFL, are also invited to participate. The statistics body Statec and the research institute Liser will provide research and data inputs to support the discussions.
After the meetings, the findings will be summarized and documented, leading to the government’s first public statement on the reform. Minister Deprez indicated that this could occur by the end of April.
As the government prepares to unveil its stance on pension reform, the consultative process involving expert groups and social partners is crucial for shaping a system that is adaptable, fair, and sustainable. The upcoming meetings will play a significant role in determining the future of Luxembourg's pension system, with the government’s views expected to be revealed soon.
