VdK President Bentele calls for social checks in pension reform and criticizes the federal government's working schedules

The Chancellor is on the defensive - but is sticking to his chosen reform course. What does the president of Germany's largest social association say about this?

VdK President Verena Bentele in an interview: She doesn't want to completely “trash” the proposals for pension reform. Photo: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa

Berlin. The president of the social association VdK Germany, Verena Bentele, is calling for a “social check” for the federal government’s announced pension reform. “Friedrich Merz and his coalition now have a great opportunity after the elections to qualitatively revise their reform for the benefit of the people,” Bentele told the German Press Agency. “The Chancellor and his government should now take advantage of this opportunity.”

Immediately after the lost elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz announced that he would stick to the black-red reform plans, which were sometimes heavily criticized: “The reforms have to come.” When asked whether she thought a different chancellor was needed, Bentele said: “We simply need a lot more focus on social balance in the federal government.” There is no point in “regularly changing governments.”

Bentele once again criticized the plans to abolish the previous "pension at 63": "Many people have already planned to retire. That's why you can't simply abolish the pension after 45 years of contributions, but we need at least a sufficient transition period and also a real replacement solution for older people with health problems."

“I would think twice”

One argument from the supporters of the reform plans is that money is needed to finance a new capital pillar to increase pension levels. However, the tax-free pension after 45 years costs billions. Bentele countered this by saying that people who are about to retire will have no future capital pension.

In her opinion, the reform plans should focus not least on the question: "How can we support all employees to really work healthily up to the statutory retirement age? Through good rehabilitation, through good and healthy jobs."

Bentele also sharply criticized the course under Merz on other points, such as the fact that in future a certificate of incapacity for work should be presented from the first day. “If I were him, I would just think about it again,” said Bentele. “What will possibly happen now in view of this mistrust: Many will then perhaps take sick leave for a whole week.”

“We have to defend our achievements”

Bentele also announced that the VdK would continue to fight with the unions against an end to the eight-hour day. The background is a planned reform of the Working Hours Act. Bentele warned that many older people, people with disabilities or in very strenuous jobs would then no longer be able to work full-time. “We have to defend our achievements here.” According to its own information, the VdK is the largest social association in Germany with more than 2.3 million members.

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