Switzerland: “Yes” to the 13th pension – “No” to the increase in the retirement limit! – 2024-03-06 12:41:38

From 2026 Swiss pensioners will receive an additional pension. In addition, they reject in a referendum the gradual increase in the retirement age to 66, says a Deutsche Welle article.

This is a success of historic proportions. For the first time since the introduction of referenda in Switzerland 130 years ago, a left-wing trade union managed to pass its own initiative in this highly conservative country. The Swiss newspaper Basler Zeitung (BZ) summarized the result as follows: “Victory of the poor over the rich.” This is an issue that concerns Swiss pensioners in a country considered to be the most expensive in the world. 58.2% of voters and more than half of the 26 cantons voted in favor of the 13th pension.

Additional monthly pension from 2026

The topic was started by Initiative “For a better life in old age” with the aim of giving pensioners an additional pension each year, something like the 13th salary that many workers in Switzerland and other European countries receive. Without much comment, immediately after the announcement of the result, the Elizabeth Bohm-Snyderfederal minister of the interior, which in Switzerland has the responsibility of a ministry of labor and social insurance, addressed the press. “2.5 million women, men and pensioners will receive an additional monthly pension from 2026. The old-age insurance system is our most important social security. With this vote, our citizens have once again shown their commitment to the solidarity that the pension system has embodied for more than 65 years. This role is essential for our society in general, but also for each of our senior citizens. The Federal Council will now quickly take the necessary steps to ensure that the initiative can be implemented on schedule.”

The Swiss government had warned that the increase would cost more than 4 billion Swiss francs a year, lead to tax increases and threaten the stability of the security system. One more reason that makes yesterday’s result more impressive. Good news, then, for the unions and progressive parties that supported an initiative that may not be so understandable to other citizens, and especially politicians, given that pensions in Switzerland are considered among the highest in Europe. The highest is 2,450 Swiss francs for singles and 3,675 for married couples. On the other hand, however, the rent for a simple three-room apartment approaches 3,000 euros in big cities, the purchase amount is unapproachable, while a simple coffee costs 5 euros. It should be said that this initiative has a precedent. It was done in Liechtensteinwhich also uses the Swiss franc and has implemented a similar system for years.

The impressive result in yesterday’s referendum in Switzerland is completed by the rejection of another question put to the voters, the gradual increase of the retirement age until 66 and its connection to life expectancy. The initiative was taken by the New Liberals and was rejected with 74.7% of the votes. The increase would save around 2 billion Swiss francs by 2030, according to the Federal Social Insurance Office, and pension funding would be guaranteed until at least 2033.

“Social security systems are under pressure due to demographic developments” said the Barbara Zimmermanrepresentative of the Swiss employers’ organizations. “We are getting older, we are living healthier, which is of course a positive development. But that also means fewer workers need to support more retirees. That’s why we need to act, and raising the retirement age is one way to do that. The alternative would be to cut benefits or increase contributions. Nobody wants that. Given the increase in life expectancy, working longer is a good solution.”

But the Adrian Wittrichhead of Work.Switzerlandof Switzerland’s largest trade union federation, was mouth-watering. “Switzerland can still afford retirement at 65. We work a lot in Switzerland, whenever I don’t see the reason for discussion.”

🇨🇭#Switzerlandreferendum final results:

Add a 13th month of pension:

Yes: 58,2 %✅
No: 41,8 %

Map from @swissinfo_en#ChVote/#abst24 pic.twitter.com/vCTSy0jjKO

— World Elects (@ElectsWorld) March 3, 2024

Source: Deutsche Welle/Irini Anastasopoulou

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