German pension reform plans raise retirement age and target early‑retirement benefits

Germany’s pension commission has proposed a step‑wise increase of the statutory retirement age, linking it to life‑expectancy and aiming for a retirement age of 70 by the early 2030s. The plan includes phasing out the “Rente mit 63” – the early‑retirement benefit for workers with 45 contribution years – which the coalition says is financially unsustainable. The commission also examined reforms to the widows’/widowers’ pension, rejecting a full abolition but recommending a new review process and better consideration of caregiving periods.

Trade unions, notably IG BAU, warned that physically demanding professions such as construction should receive special pension provisions, calling for an “express route” to retirement for heavily burdened workers. A separate analysis highlighted how the reforms could affect migrants in Germany, stressing the need to adapt pension rules to their specific employment patterns.

Overall, the proposals aim to balance demographic pressures with pension system sustainability while navigating political debate over transition periods and protection for vulnerable groups.