From the memory lane: Plans to increase retirement age in Japan and many European countries

@ptrikha_2 (45467)
India
October 13, 2017 12:39pm CST
I remembered this news, which I had watched on a TV channel(AlJazeera) an year back. Coutries like Japan and many countries in Europe have increasing life expectancy. Many people are living beyond 80 now, much more than average number of such people earlier. The working population as a % of whole has been shrinking. In some countries, the absolute numbers too are decreasing in the working age population. So, countries like Japan, Germany, Sweden, Finland etc are providing support in various terms to people beyond 55 years of age in terms of means to support their work. Also, many have now made plans to ask the people to work beyond 60- 65 years. For e.g- Germany is planning to increase the retirement age to 70, Japan to 67 or 68 and a few countries more are expected to do so. Increasing pension burdens on the Governments is a big factor. Also, Governments have to think as to how the Pension Funds can give more return without investing all of them in equities and Mutual funds. What do you say?
3 people like this
2 responses
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
14 Oct 17
I say that I am happy that I was able to retire at 65, because now the age is 67. My cousin in Italy was less lucky, the age there is now 68, it will be 70 in a near future.
2 people like this
@YrNemo (20261)
14 Oct 17
At 70, one will spend more time groaning from muscle, back, etc pains than really work.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
14 Oct 17
@YrNemo The reality is that they have no more money to pay pensions, I suspect they hope that you die before getting it.
2 people like this
@YrNemo (20261)
14 Oct 17
@LadyDuck OMG, that is so funny and cruel! I never thought of it that way, since I simply didn't know much about the pension business. THAT makes me want to find a corner and cry, seriously! (Think of all the years those people work and pay tax, and now they get to that age of retiring, they find out that there is no money for their pension!)
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 17
Australia used to be 60 for women and 65 for men but it's now 65 1/2 for everyone. It is going to be staged to 67 by July 2023 and perhaps 70 by 2035 depending on whether current proposals are accepted.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45467)
• India
14 Oct 17
@JudyEv may be we will see some changes in India as well. However, here, scenario is a lot different, and changes in retirement age will not happen soon.
1 person likes this