Overview
- In an interview with Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, CDU Minister-President Daniel Günther said longer working lives are needed to preserve Germany’s prosperity.
- He called for greater social recognition for people who keep working later in life and said those who want to should be able to work until 70.
- Günther urged that the discussion not be shut down by citing physically demanding jobs such as roofers as definitive counterarguments.
- Germany’s statutory retirement age remains on course to rise to 67 by 2031, with earlier retirement allowed after 45 contribution years.
- Trade unions maintain their opposition to extending working lives, citing health limits and fairness concerns for older and manual workers.