A proposal by Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz to link the retirement age to parenthood has sparked controversy. A pension expert argues that while equalizing the retirement age for women and men is justified, tying it to having children could discriminate against those who cannot become parents for health or life reasons.
Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, leader of Poland 2050 and Minister of Funds, has consistently advocated for equalizing the retirement age for women and men. Recently, she proposed linking the retirement age to parenthood. Currently, women retire at 60 and men at 65.
– Perhaps if a woman has children, then the retirement age is different. And if she has no children – and today every second young woman makes such a life choice, that she has no children – then her pension system should be set up the same as for men – said Pełczyńska-Nałęcz in an interview with Wirtualna Polska.
A proposal that divides
The idea has drawn criticism from pension experts. Oskar Sobolewski, a pension expert at HRK Payroll Consulting, told Fakt that equalizing the retirement age is very justified, especially since the retirement age for women in Poland is the lowest in the EU. However, he stressed that the retirement age should not be linked to the number of children.
– We must remember that some people may not be able to have children, and would therefore be additionally disadvantaged in this situation – Sobolewski emphasized.
Expert’s concerns
According to Sobolewski, pensions should primarily be linked to work and the amount of money contributed throughout one’s professional activity. Linking the retirement age to parenthood could create an unfair system for those who are childless not by choice but due to circumstances beyond their control.
The discussion comes at a time when Poland’s pension system faces demographic challenges. Any change to the retirement age would require broad social consensus and careful consideration of all groups affected.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. PAP/Piotr Nowak
