The leadership of the German Civil Servants’ Association (DBB), Volker Geyer, has cautioned the current coalition government against implementing cuts to pensions or retirement provisions as part of planned social reforms.
Speaking to publications of the Funke-Mediengruppe, Geyer emphasized that any reductions to existing entitlements would be detrimental, arguing that those benefits have been earned. He suggested a fundamental restructuring of the civil servant system is unnecessary, stating the system remains viable. However, he stressed the importance of legally binding provisions for the government to establish reserves specifically to secure the long-term financing of pensions.
Geyer expressed confidence in the government’s ability to address the challenges facing social security systems, noting a need to demonstrate governmental effectiveness to restore public trust. He indicated that successful reform hinges on the government’s commitment to its agenda and effective collaboration across departments.
Regarding potential contributions from the civil service to cost-saving measures, Geyer referred to ongoing commission work and deferred comment on specific outcomes. He rejected a recent proposal from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) advocating for the inclusion of civil servants in the state pension system, citing widespread scientific consensus against its effectiveness. He argued that such a move would likely increase the number of benefit recipients without generating tangible improvements.
Furthermore, Geyer dismissed a suggestion from the Council of Experts (Sachverständigenrat) proposing a combination of state pension inclusion alongside supplementary occupational pensions for civil servants, characterizing it as an unnecessarily expensive solution that would not resolve existing pension system issues. He underscored the independence of the civil servant pension system from the state pension scheme.