Germany’s Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, Bärbel Bas, has expressed skepticism regarding the timely implementation of recommendations stemming from the planned Pension Commission, suggesting concrete changes before the next federal election are unlikely.
Speaking to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Bas indicated that the commission, scheduled to begin work in early 2026 and present findings in 2027, is primarily focused on long-term solutions beyond the current legislative period. “It’s about the future: what do we need beyond the current term in office?” she stated.
This position appears to contrast with those expressed by CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who recently advocated for accelerating discussions and progress within the various commissions, citing demographic pressures and the urgency of the situation. While acknowledging that initial steps towards pension adjustments will be taken this autumn, Bas implied a comprehensive agreement within the current coalition government is improbable. The cabinet recently approved measures to maintain current pension levels until 2031, further fueling debate around fundamental pension reform.
Regarding the ‘Bürgergeld’ (basic income) system, Bas outlined plans to present legislation this fall addressing immediate priorities, including requirements for participation, waiting periods and related issues. However, she cautioned that more substantial changes aimed at increasing work incentives through revised income calculation rules will require approval from the Bundesrat (upper house of parliament) and are therefore unlikely to be implemented quickly.
Bas also addressed ongoing discussions surrounding the level of basic income benefits, highlighting existing court rulings designed to ensure a minimum standard of living. This appears to be a response to calls from CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann for significant reductions in benefits for those perceived as unwilling to work, a proposal which raises constitutional concerns.
Looking ahead to the Social State Commission, set to conclude its work by the end of the year, Bas cautioned against expecting sweeping changes. She emphasized the commission’s focus on streamlining processes, simplifying access to social services and reducing bureaucracy – aiming for improvements such as eliminating redundant form-filling and harmonizing income definitions across different social benefits.
Finally, Bas reiterated her long-held criticism of public sector pensions, noting the disparity between declining benefit levels for statutory pensioners and consistently high pension payments for civil servants. She argued that this represents a matter of fairness and suggested that the preferential status of civil servants should be limited to security personnel.