Latest news with #TommasJensen
NZ Herald
24-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Denmark to raise retirement age to 70 by 2040, highest in Europe
'We no longer believe that the retirement age should be increased automatically,' she said. 'You can't just keep saying that people have to work a year longer.' Danish workers reacted with scorn to the new rules, warning that they would be particularly tough for blue-collar workers in physically demanding jobs. '[It's] unrealistic and unreasonable,' roofer Tommas Jensen, 47, told public broadcaster DR. 'We work and work and work, but we can't keep going.' He added: 'I've paid my taxes all my life. There should also be time to be with children and grandchildren.' The retirement regime has also been branded 'completely unfair' by Jesper Ettrup Rasmussen, the chairman of Denmark's confederation of trade unions. 'Denmark has a healthy economy and yet the EU's highest retirement age. A higher retirement age means that [people will] lose the right to a dignified senior life,' he said in comments reported by the BBC. The retirement age is a sensitive subject in Europe, with higher life expectancy and budget deficits pushing each generation to work for longer than its predecessor. As a result, Denmark's decision to have the highest retirement age somewhat contradicts its reputation as an exceedingly prosperous and comfortable Nordic state. In neighbouring Sweden, pension benefits can still be claimed by citizens as young as 63. In France, there were mass protests and riots when Emmanuel Macron's Government imposed a law raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. In the United Kingdom, those born between 1955 and 1960 generally start to receive their pension at 66, but the threshold gradually increases for those born after 1960.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Denmark to raise retirement age to 70
Denmark will raise its retirement age to 70 by 2040, the highest in Europe, after a controversial vote in parliament. The increase in retirement age was approved in the country's legislature, with 81 votes in favour and 21 against. The age of retirement has been tied to life expectancy in Denmark – currently 81.7 years – since 2006, with the government raising the threshold every five years. Under the Danish system, the retirement age will rise from 67 to 68 in 2030, and then 69 in 2035, and finally to 70 in 2040. The retirement age of 70 will only apply to Danes born after Dec 31, 1970. Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, has admitted that the sliding scale for retirement is not sustainable, and that a new system will eventually need to replace it. 'We no longer believe that the retirement age should be increased automatically,' she said. 'You can't just keep saying that people have to work a year longer.' Danish workers reacted with scorn to the new rules, warning that they would be particularly tough for blue-collar workers in physically demanding jobs. '[It's] unrealistic and unreasonable,' roofer Tommas Jensen, 47, told public broadcaster DR. 'We work and work and work, but we can't keep going.' He added: 'I've paid my taxes all my life. There should also be time to be with children and grandchildren.' The retirement regime has also been branded 'completely unfair' by Jesper Ettrup Rasmussen, the chairman of Denmark's confederation of trade unions. 'Denmark has a healthy economy and yet the EU's highest retirement age. A higher retirement age means that [people will] lose the right to a dignified senior life,' he said in comments reported by the BBC. The retirement age is a sensitive subject in Europe, with higher life expectancy and budget deficits pushing each generation to work for longer than its predecessor. As a result, Denmark's decision to have the highest retirement age somewhat contradicts its reputation as an exceedingly prosperous and comfortable Nordic state. In neighbouring Sweden, pension benefits can still be claimed by citizens as young as 63. In France, there were mass protests and riots when Emmanuel Macron's government imposed a law raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. In the United Kingdom, those born between 1955 and 1960 generally start to receive their pension at 66, but the threshold gradually increases for those born after 1960. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Denmark to raise retirement age to 70
Denmark will raise its retirement age to 70 by 2040, the highest in Europe, after a controversial vote in parliament. The increase in retirement age was approved in the country's legislature, with 81 votes in favour and 21 against. The age of retirement has been tied to life expectancy in Denmark – currently 81.7 years – since 2006, with the government raising the threshold every five years. Under the Danish system, the retirement age will rise from 67 to 68 in 2030, and then 69 in 2035, and finally to 70 in 2040. The retirement age of 70 will only apply to Danes born after Dec 31, 1970. Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, has admitted that the sliding scale for retirement is not sustainable, and that a new system will eventually need to replace it. 'We no longer believe that the retirement age should be increased automatically,' she said. 'You can't just keep saying that people have to work a year longer.' Danish workers reacted with scorn to the new rules, warning that they would be particularly tough for blue-collar workers in physically demanding jobs. '[It's] unrealistic and unreasonable,' roofer Tommas Jensen, 47, told public broadcaster DR. 'We work and work and work, but we can't keep going.' He added: 'I've paid my taxes all my life. There should also be time to be with children and grandchildren.'
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Outcry as Denmark's retirement age to become highest in Europe at 70
Denmark will boost its retirement age to 70 by 2040 making it the highest in Europe, after its parliament adopted a controversial new law. Under Danish policy, the retirement age is revised every five years and is tied to life expectancy, meaning it is set to rise to 68 in 2030 and 69 in 2035. The Nordic country follows an old principle that the state pension age should go up broadly in line with life expectancy, which in Denmark currently sits at 81.7 years old. Retirement age has been tied to life expectancy in Denmark since 2006. Passed in the Danish parliament with 81 votes for and 21 against, the increase has prompted anger among Danes who hoped the retirement age would not reach a symbolic milestone, forcing many to work until they reach their eighth decade. Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Social Democrat prime minister has made clear that the policy is not sustainable long term. "We no longer believe that the retirement age should be increased automatically," she said according to the BBC. 'You can't just keep saying that people have to work a year longer". But many voters have reacted angrily, fearful of being forced to 'keep going' even when their bodies are not up to it. The policy is 'unrealistic and unreasonable', 47-year-old roofer Tommas Jensen told public broadcaster Danmarks Radio. 'We work and work and work, but we can't keep going.' While it might be different for those with desk jobs, Mr Jensen added, workers with physically-demanding jobs would struggle with the changes. "I've paid my taxes all my life. There should also be time to be with children and grandchildren," Mr Jensen told outlet DK. According to the Times, however, surveys show that more than half of Danes want to keep working beyond the state pension age, gradually phasing themselves into retirement over several years during their 60s rather than cutting off entirely once they reach retirement. Jesper Ettrup Rasmussen, the chairman of the Danish trade union confederation, said the change was "completely unfair", according to the BBC. "Denmark has a healthy economy and yet the EU's highest retirement age," he said. "A higher retirement age means that [people will] lose the right to a dignified senior life." Some Danes have angrily noted the retirement age of 60 for many of their politicians on parliamentary pensions, including Ms Frederiksen, 47, and 26 MPs elected before 2007. They need only to have worked as an elected MP for one year to be eligible for this pension.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Denmark raises retirement age to the highest in Europe, sparking fury: 'No time to be with grandchildren!'
Denmark is set to raise the retirement age to 70 - a move that has been heavily criticised by to-be pensioners. The Scandinavian country has tied the new retirement age to life expectancy, only affecting those who were born after 1971. The cap will rise from the current retirement age of 67 to 68 in 2030 and then to 69 in 2025. Tommas Jensen told Danish media 'we're working and working and working, but we can't keep going'. 'I've paid my taxes all my life. There should also be time to be with children and grandchildren.' The 47-year-old roofer went on to say the move was 'unreasonable' and highlighted the difference between working a desk job and jobs that are demanding of the body. The Danish government has been revising the retirement age every five years for the last two decades, with this new rule passed through their parliament yesterday 81 votes in favour to 21 against. But the Social Democrat Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has previously said these numbers would be renegotiated. She said: 'We no longer believe that the retirement age should be increased automatically.' She added that her party believed 'you can't just keep saying that people have to work a year longer'. Protests have been taking place in Copenhagen over the last few weeks as trade unions stood against the new changes. The chairman of a Danish trade union confederation, Jesper Ettrup Rasmussen, said ahead of the vote on Thursday that the proposal was 'completely unfair'. 'A higher retirement age means that [people will] lose the right to a dignified senior life.' 'Denmark has a healthy economy and yet the EU's highest retirement age,' he added. Retirement ages across Europe have been rising in recent years to meet budget deficits as well as the improved life expectancy. Brits born between 6 October 1954 and 5 April 1960 can begin to receive their pension from 66 but this will raise to 67 for people born after this period. This could increase as the State Pension age will also be repeatedly reviewed in the UK to address longer life expectancy. By comparison, people in Sweden can start claiming pension benefits from 63. But for those living in Italy, they will have to wait until they are 67 to receive their pension.
