Pension or continue to work? VDK warns of pressure on seniors!

The article illuminates the challenges of part -time work in Germany and the social aspects for older workers.
The article illuminates the challenges of part -time work in Germany and the social aspects for older workers. (Symbolbild/NAG)

Pension or continue to work? VDK warns of pressure on seniors!

The debate about working conditions for older workers in Germany is picking up a new journey. The social association VDK warns that many people do not achieve regular retirement age due to health reasons, unemployment or family care obligations. A survey from August 2024 showed that almost half of the over 50s can imagine continuing to work in retirement. This number shows a remarkable potential that is due to today's economic challenges. According to Infranken gives a third this group of financial hardship as the main reason for the further work.

intriguing it is that around 40 percent reject the possibility of continued work, while about 7 percent remain undecided. The VDK expresses concerns that older workers may be forced to work out of economic hardship or social pressure, which questions the importance of retirement provision in Germany. Against this background, the CDU, in particular by Carsten Linnemann, calls for incentives to create incentives for companies, engage older workers and improve their working conditions.

part -time employment as a solution?

A central aspect of the discussion is part -time employment, which is a common solution for many workers. According to an investigation by the Institute of German Economy (IW), Germans of an average of 1,036 hours annually work at an employable age, which is relatively low compared to other countries. The part -time quota that has increased in Germany in recent years is all the more remarkable. In 2023, around 12.8 million people between the ages of 15 and 74 worked part -time, which corresponds to a share of 30 percent in total employment. BPB reports that almost every second working woman (48.9 percent) and only 13.3 percent of men worked part-time.

The service sector is the main area in which part -time employment can be found. Nevertheless, part -time work also has challenges. This form of employment can often be associated with disadvantages such as reduced earnings, limited opportunities for advancement and an increased risk of poverty. In women in particular, many are faced with the problem of reconciling their professional and family obligations. A good 33 percent of women work part -time due to family or care obligations, while men often state vocational training as a reason, as can be seen from the data of bpb

social implications of working hours design

The flexibility that part -time offers is contrasting to the risks that can be accompanied by it. While part -time work enables many people to agree on work and private life, it also often means a waiver of secure income and more robust pension. Most part -time employees work because they cannot find a full -day job, which has been a growing problem since 2013. The proportion of persons working part -time is 5.1 percent, while 4.4 percent of part -time staff actively search for a full -time job, prove the latest statistics from BPB .

In summary, it can be stated that developments in part -time employment and the challenges of older workers who may be forced to continue working are central issues of labor market policy in Germany. Legislators and companies are asked to question the predominant framework and to adapt if necessary in order to find a fair and sustainable solution for all those affected.

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