Thuringia's Minister of Labor Tests Active Retirement - Thuringia's Labor Minister Pushes for Workplace Improvements to Boost Retirement Age
In Thuringia, only 43% of residents envision working until retirement age due to job conditions and workload. Minister of Labor, Katharina Schenk, is pushing for improvements to tackle this issue as part of the 'Pakt für Wachstum und Arbeitsplätze'.
Schenk has called on regional authorities, business groups, welfare organisations, and social partners to bolster qualification programmes, age-appropriate work models, and counselling services for those aiming to extend their working lives. She also supports a pilot of the 'active retirement' scheme to address staff shortages. This scheme, which allows pensioners to work part-time while retaining some benefits, is set for review after one to two years.
Currently, over 33,000 pensioners and retirees in Thuringia are already working. With more than one in four residents aged 65 or above, the need for such initiatives is evident.
Schenk's proposals aim to make workplaces more accommodating for older employees and encourage those who wish to continue working past retirement age. The success of the 'active retirement' pilot will be assessed after one to two years, with potential adjustments to be made based on its outcomes.
