Croatia at odds over retirement at 67
Croatia's Labour Minister Marko Pavić has proposed bringing the raise in the retirement age forward to 2031. Originally the planned increase from from 65 to 67 years of age was not to take place until 2038. Bringing the retirement age up to 67 has been stipulated by the European Commission. For some journalists the initiative is timely, but others worry about the fate of future pensioners.
Pensioners will fight over the rubbish
Novi list fears the measure will have catastrophic consequences for the Croatian pension system:
“The government and the ministry in charge have absolutely no interest in the consequences of what they describe as a pension reform. They're keen on fulfilling their promises to the European Commission, but they're going to leave the system in chaos without producing any real solutions. After all, it's not them who will have to deal with the consequences. It will be up to a future government to tackle the problem of poverty among the elderly who have paid into the pension system for years only to be left with no choice but to fight over who gets to raid which rubbish bin.”
Elderly workers needed
In view of Croatia's demographic situation, raising the retirement age is the right step, Večernji list believes:
“The departure of up to 400,000 workers in the prime of their working lives has made room for the elder generation. ... In recent months in particular they have been hired more often, as employers faced the difficult choice between recruiting elderly workers or shutting up shop. ... So far now those over 65 have continued to work in universities, hospitals and the courts. The private sector, on the other hand, got rid of its workers as soon they were eligible for retirement. This turnaround on the job market is a positive development for all those who want to work and still can.”