Pension reform bill passes first reading in parliament

Left to right - PM Tusk, Finance Minister Rostowski, Foreign Minister Sikorski and deputy PM Pawlak: photo - PAP/Andrzej Hrechorowicz

The motion put forward by the opposition failed when 266 MPs voted against to 168 voting for, with two abstentions.

The plan to raise the retirement age in Poland to 67 for both men and women has been a highly controversial move by the government, to offset what is regarded as a ‘demographic time bomb’, as Polish society ages.

The Solidarity trade union has demanded a national referendum on the issue.

Currently,men can retire at 65 and women at 62.

The government’s plan envisages the new retirement age coming into force in 2020 for men and 2040 for women.

The draft law also contains a concession won by the junior coalition partner, the Polish Peasant’s Party (PSL) of allowing for partial retirement for women at 62 years old of they have been working for 35 years.

Men would be allowed to opt for partial retirement at 65 years old if they have been working for 40 years.

The bill will now be examined by an extraordinary all-party parliamentary commission made of 22 MPs. (pg)