Economist Peter Bofinger has rejected the heavy labor pension scheme for Germany, which was proposed by Dirk Wiese, the parliamentary manager for the SPD faction, and is based on the Austrian model.
Speaking to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung,” Bofinger stated that adopting the Austrian approach would inevitably lead to legal disputes and significant challenges in defining exactly which employees qualify as “heavy workers.” He believes that implementing such a system would be overly bureaucratic and practically unmanageable.
The expert is also critical of the standard Austrian practice of measuring physical strain through calorie consumption, arguing that this methodology overlooks mental exertion or wear and tear on joints. Bofinger pointed out that individuals who have performed physically demanding jobs rarely meet the 45-year contribution requirement, as they are usually retired prior to that age. He added that those reaching the 45-year mark are predominantly people whose jobs are not physically strenuous.
To provide early retirement options for those who need it without forcing them into career changes, the commission suggests specific hardship provisions. These regulations would allow early retirement benefits for individuals in their specific occupational groups who are unable to work due to physical impairment.
