Parliament passes retirement-age bill

When it comes into force on 1 October 2017, the bill will overturn a law introduced by the previous government to raise the age at which both men and women retire to 67.

Some experts say that the new bill will cause a strain on the fragile pension system, which is already under pressure to meet the financial demands of an aging population.

Lowering the age of retirement was a key campaign pledge by the conservative Law and Justice party, which swept to power in Poland’s October general election on a wave of spending and welfare promises.

The former government, led by the more economically liberal Civic Platform, had argued that raising the retirement age was inescapable as Poland is facing a demographic crisis, with the number of pensioners set to rise in proportion to people of working age. (rg)