Macedonian Syndicates Reject Proposed 72-Year Retirement Age, Call for Early Pension Options

The Union of Macedonian Syndicates (LSM) has strongly opposed a proposal to raise the statutory retirement age to 72 years in North Macedonia. The union argues that extending working life does not solve the structural deficits of the pension fund and warns that the average life expectancy is already 76 years.

LSM demands models that allow early retirement, service‑based pensions, and special provisions for physically demanding occupations. It proposes a pension after 40 years of work for men and 35 years for women, the option of partial pensions, the purchase of additional service years, and a reduced retirement age for hazardous jobs. Current eligibility stands at 64 for men and 62 for women, with a minimum of 15 years of contributions.

The pension system currently serves about 348,500 beneficiaries who receive an average pension of roughly 28,000 denars per month. Around 556,300 workers are insured, creating a ratio of one retiree to 1.63 active employees, a trend that further strains the fund.