Monika Schnitzer, one of the “economic sages” of the German government, has called for the integration of civil servants into the statutory pension system. “Forcing civil servants to contribute to the pension fund does not solve the fundamental problem: future pensions and retirement benefits must be paid by future taxpayers and contributors” said Schnitzer to the newspapers of the Funke Media Group (Monday editions). It is the ratio between the younger and older generation that is at stake, she said. “And this is deteriorating” said the economist. “So there will be no way around limiting pension and retirement claims and raising the retirement age.”
However, she added, it is “worthwhile” to reform the pension system of civil servants and integrate it into a general pension system for all. “To ensure that all restrictions imposed on statutory insurance holders are also applied to them.” She mentioned, for example, the limitation of the increase in pension claims and the raising of the retirement age.
Schnitzer responded to statements made by Labor Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD). She had called for civil servants, self-employed individuals and members of parliament to be integrated into the statutory pension system, reigniting the debate on the future of the pension system.