Politics · Germany · 10 hrs ago
CDU Economic Council urges Germany to end early retirement rule
The CDU Economic Council has urged Labour Minister Alexander Schweitzer to abolish the “Rente mit 63” rule in Germany.
The rule allows people with 45 years of pension contributions to retire early without deductions.
The council says younger contributors help pay for earlier retirement, while people with lower pensions and many women are less likely to benefit.
It also argues that the rule can disadvantage people unable to work for health reasons and leave companies short of experienced staff.
The council cites an estimate that ending the rule could save public funds about €9.5 billion for each generation of new retirees over the long term, not each year.
In 2025, about 262,000 people started this type of pension, with an average monthly payment of around €1,677.
The coalition agreement says the rule should generally remain, and Schweitzer has said he wants a compromise, so the issue is unresolved.
The CDU Economic Council has urged Labour Minister Alexander Schweitzer to abolish Germany’s “retirement at 63” rule.
The council made the demand in a letter sent on Wednesday, according to Bild.
It argues the rule is unfair to younger contributors, poorer pensioners, women and people unable to work for health reasons.
The council says ending the rule could ease public finances by about €9.5 billion for each generation of retirees over several decades.
Schweitzer has pointed to the coalition agreement, which says the pension without deductions should generally be retained, and is seeking a compromise.
- Who
- The CDU Economic Council, represented by its secretary-general Wolfgang Steiger, is calling on Labour Minister Alexander Schweitzer.
- What
- It wants Germany to abolish the “retirement at 63” rule.
- When
- The letter was reportedly sent on Wednesday; Bild published its report on 28 October 2026.
- Where
- Germany. The letter was sent from Berlin, according to Bild.
- Why
- The council says the rule is unfair and causes experienced workers to leave the workforce early. It also cites potential long-term savings for public finances.
CDU Economic Council
Alexander Schweitzer and the coalition agreement
Policy
CDU Economic Council
The council wants the “retirement at 63” rule abolished.
Alexander Schweitzer and the coalition agreement
Schweitzer has referred to the coalition agreement, which says the pension without deductions should generally be retained.
Rationale
CDU Economic Council
The council says the rule is unfair to younger contributors, poorer pensioners, women and people unable to work for health reasons.
Alexander Schweitzer and the coalition agreement
Schweitzer is seeking a compromise.
The pension commission recommended abolishing the “retirement at 63” rule.
262,361 people began a pension for particularly long-term insured people, according to German Pension Insurance figures cited by the council.
Bild reported that the CDU Economic Council had sent Schweitzer a letter urging abolition of the rule.
- Letter author
- Wolfgang Steiger, secretary-general of the CDU Economic Council
- Letter recipient
- Alexander Schweitzer, Labour Minister
- Potential savings
- About €9.5 billion per generation of retirees over several decades
- New pensions in 2025
- 262,361 for particularly long-term insured people
- Average monthly pension
- About €1,677 for those starting this type of pension in 2025
What people are saying
The abolition of the so-called ‘retirement at 63’ would be a convincing start.
Your party writes social justice on its banners.