Labour minister rules out raising pension age

Labour Minister Marian Jurečka said on Wednesday that he does not intend to push through a rise in the pension age from 65 to 68 into new relevant legislation that is being prepared. He added that the age when people become eligible for the state pension should take average life expectancy, length of work and the nature of the profession into account. The statement came after he met with representatives of the opposition Freedom and Direct Democracy party.

The state’s pension deficit currently lies at around CZK 78 billion and the government is pushing through a change in legislation that would slow down the annual rise in pensions. A pension commission has been set up to discuss the relevant amendments and the labour minister stated today that it will be expanded to include representatives of opposition parties in the lower-house.