The retirement age again becomes 1 of the hottest topics in Poland. Although the government officially denies the plans for universal reform, it is for 1 peculiar professional group Longer work becomes a fact. The legislature committee adopted without amendment an amendment to the Act, which extends the compulsory age of professional activity by 5 years. This means that any specialists will gotta work until they are 70 years of age alternatively than 65 so far. This decision, although it concerns a narrow group, caused a wave of speculation and fear. Is it just a “test” and preparing the ground for much wider changes that can affect millions of Poles? The Ministry of Justice argues that it is only about equalising standards within the legal professions, but the public debate on the future of the pension strategy has rekindled with unprecedented force.
Working until you're 70 becomes a fact. Who precisely is the change?
The fresh provisions that have already passed through the legislature are addressed straight to court bailiffs. It is this professional group that must prepare for revolution in its career path. Until now, the bailiffs were obliged to end their professional activity after reaching 65 years of age. The adopted amendment withdraws the changes introduced in 2019 and restores the erstwhile legal status, setting a new, advanced age limit for 70 years.
The Ministry of Justice, headed by Minister Adam Bodnar, argues that the change is dictated by the request to harmonise rules for all legal professions. As highlighted in the explanatory memorandum, judges, prosecutors, lawyers or notaries already have the chance to work until the age of 70. Maintaining a lower border for bailiffs was, according to the Ministry, a form of discrimination, as confirmed by erstwhile decisions of the administrative courts. "Extensive work of bailiffs will make better usage of their vast cognition and experience" said Minister Bodnar, pointing out the applicable benefits for the justice system.
It is besides worth noting that the amendment besides includes asessors. The six-year time limit for this function will be terminated. According to the Ministry of Justice, removing this regulation will give the asessors more time to get the essential competences and informed decision to open their own law firm.
The government calms down, but ZUS gives the data. Is this the beginning of an avalanche?
The news of raising the retirement age for bailiffs immediately raised the question that millions of Poles are asking: is this the announcement of akin changes for all? presently The general retirement age in Poland is 60 years for women and 65 years for men, which is 1 of the lowest thresholds throughout the European Union. The public debate has voiced that the change in 1 group is simply a circumstantial test balloon to examine the social consequence before a wider improvement is introduced.
The president of the Social Insurance Institution, Zbigniew Derdziuk, took the level in this case, who powerfully denied specified plans in an interview with the portal "Interia". "There are no plans to rise the retirement age. The decision to quit belongs to all citizen" said ZUS President. He stressed that the current strategy is flexible and allows each individual to decide erstwhile to end his professional career. ZUS provides tools, specified as a pension calculator, which let to estimation the amount of future benefits depending on further work experience.
Despite these assurances, experts pay attention to demographics and increasing challenges for the social safety system. Longer work is 1 of the most recommended solutions to guarantee financial stableness for future generations of pensioners, which makes certain that this subject will return in the future.
Poles work longer anyway. amazing statistic ZUS
Although the possible of a statutory extension of work is worrying, data from the Social Insurance Institution show that many Poles voluntarily choose to proceed their career after reaching retirement age. Turns out already more than 800,000 seniors in Poland quit and at the same time stay active in the labour market. This number is steadily increasing, indicating a changing approach to old age and work.
ZUS president Zbigniew Derdziuk, commenting on this data, points to many benefits of longer professional activity. "Age is only a number. We are pleased that older people are active professionally” – he said. As he added, staying on the labour marketplace translates not only into higher pension provision in the future but besides into better well-being, little spending on treatment and little frequent intellectual problems. Work becomes a way for many seniors to keep social contacts and a sense of being needed.
This trend shows that for a increasing group of Poles work after 65 years of age is not a compulsion, but a conscious choice. The motivations are different – from purely financial, by wanting to share experience, to the request to keep an active lifestyle. This is an crucial context in the discussion of possible future pension reforms.
What's next on the bill? Key decision of the President
The amendment of the Act on the retirement age of bailiffs was successfully passed through the full legislative process in the parliament and was adopted by the legislature without any amendments. Now the paper is waiting for the final key step – signature of president Andrzej Duda. It is up to him to decide whether the fresh rules will enter into force.
The president has respective options: he can sign the bill, which will make it applicable later this year, mention it to the Constitutional Court to examine its constitutional compatibility, or veto it. Taking into account the Ministry of Justice's argument about the request for equalisation within the legal professions, veto seems unlikely, but the final decision has not yet been taken.
If the bill is signed, bailiffs who are approaching 65 will be faced with the choice: either to adapt to fresh rules and to work longer, or to resign from the profession if they have already reached a general retirement age. For some, this change is the end of discrimination and the chance to make longer usage of their potential. For others it is simply a dangerous precedent that can open the door to a much broader and more controversial debate about the future of all Poles.
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Retirement age up 5 years! The government has decided. This group will work longer.
