On October 7, 2019, an article by Christof Schuerpf about the increase in the retirement age appeared in the bz. The journalist refers to the auditor Deloitte, who surveyed a thousand people between the ages of 50 and 70 on this topic in June of this year. The increase - in whatever stages - was poorly received.

Various scenarios are possible:

• The Federal Council wants to gradually raise the retirement age for women from 64 to 65 over four years, although this plan has already failed twice at the ballot box.
• Another idea is to make pension payments more flexible. In concrete terms, people could retire between the ages of 62 and 70.
• And then there are the Juso, who want to increase the retirement age to 66 and then link it to life expectancy.

The president of Pro Senectute, former Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, explained in an interview that the current pension system will soon no longer be financially viable. This means that fewer and fewer senior citizens will be able to live off their pension. They will have to look for additional jobs. She is in favour of a flexible approach to the retirement age and emphasises that a construction worker cannot work as long as a lawyer (see bz/2.7.2019).

Former Council of States member Philipp Müller, on the other hand, caused a stir because he thinks the retirement age should be abolished. He stated that employees over 50 are very difficult to place when they lose their jobs. He thinks this is due to the high non-wage labor costs. And he explains that a kind of "working life" should be included in the calculation (see bz / 30.9.2019).

Well, dear reader, how do you feel about making a decision? Which is the right one? The topic is complex and difficult. In my opinion, however, it requires the economy and a change in thinking. As long as companies no longer employ people over 50, a flexible and increased retirement age is of no use. Or is it?

PS: By the way: in August 2019, the unemployment rate in Switzerland was at a low 2.1%. Also in August, 7,645 people aged 60+ were registered as unemployed across Switzerland (sources: Federal Statistical Office / Situation on the labor market, September 9, 2019).