Munich (dpa/lby) - The labor market expert Oliver Stettes from the Institute of German Economics (IW) has proposed that early retirement regulations be largely dispensed with in order to secure the potential for skilled workers in Germany. Several bridges to early retirement would have to be torn down, Stettes said on Monday at an event organized by the Bavarian Business Association (vbw) in Munich. Companies should start thinking about how they can keep older workers in the company at an early stage. Stettes said that people had to remain able to work and be willing to change.
vbw President Bertram Brossardt said that retirement at 67 must be implemented. The retirement age is currently around 64 for men and slightly lower for women. Stettes considers it a mistake that the additional income limits for pensioners at 63 have been abolished. The loss of early retirement is easily offset by a 50 percent job. But half the workforce is lost to the economy. It is also necessary for Germany and Bavaria to become more attractive as immigration countries, said Stettes. "They don't all come here by themselves," said Stettes. People often fail abroad when they have to wait too long for an appointment at German embassies and consulates to issue a visa.
