The head of the German Civil Service Federation (DBB), Volker Geyer, has rejected a proposal to extend the working life of civil servants.
Speaking to the Saturday editions of the Funke Media Group newspapers, Geyer described the suggestion as “astonishing” particularly within the ongoing debate surrounding social security systems. He argued that the concept relies on a flawed premise, stating, “No one has an average life expectancy.
Geyer further elaborated, questioning the logic of basing policy on demographic generalizations. “Civil servants, employees, self-employed individuals, men, women, academics, those with lower levels of education, individuals with higher weight, athletes – each group would have a different life expectancy. Is this really the level at which we want to have this discussion?
His comments came in response to a study conducted by the Pestel Institute, in which economists suggested that civil servants should work an additional five and a half years beyond the retirement age typically applied to other professions. The proposal is based on differing average life expectancies between occupational groups.
