Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stated that the retirement age must be increased so that the population aged between 50 and 65, who are actively engaged in the real economy, represents a larger proportion than it currently does.
„From my point of view, we are in a situation where we need more people in the labor market, in the real labor market. And for this, whether we like it or not, we need to raise the retirement age so that, in the 50 – 65 age range, the population involved in the real economy is in a higher proportion than it is today, because there is no one to replace them,” Bolojan stated on Monday on TVR Info, when asked if the third reform package will include measures regarding other categories with special pensions, in addition to those of magistrates.
He explained that if the retirement age is not increased, in general, for all categories, including those with special pensions, the pension system will face "an unsustainable situation" in five or ten years.
"Think that our generations, numbering 400,000 - 500,000 people in a year, will retire in ten years, and behind them come generations of 200,000, and, practically, if we do not increase the retirement age, in general, for all categories, including those with special pensions, we will face an unsustainable situation of the pension system in five years, in ten years. And we must say this, we cannot jeopardize the future of the generations that come after us, by shifting some loans to the future or by not taking measures to realign things in a normal structure," Ilie Bolojan added.
UPDATE: The Government States That Increasing the Standard Retirement Age Is Not Being Considered
However, on Tuesday morning, the Government stated that increasing the standard retirement age is not being considered.
"The Government is not considering and is not discussing the possibility of increasing the standard retirement age at this time," the Government announced.
According to government officials, "in the TVR interview, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan referred exclusively to the retirement age of categories with special status in this regard, thus to the elimination of exceptions from the standard age."
Economic Revitalization Measures
When asked if the third reform package will include the economic revitalization measures announced by PSD, Bolojan stated: "Any proposal from a party in the coalition, individuals in the coalition, individuals outside the coalition who can offer good proposals aimed at reducing expenses, being more efficient, supporting investments, promoting economic revitalization, and devising development formulas, is welcome, and ownership is not the issue for us."
"The problem we have had all these years is to be responsible in the positions we hold and to be serious in implementation. And seriousness in implementation and responsibility mean that if you announce that there will be a staff reduction, for example, do not abolish vacant positions, because it means we are making a mockery of you and those who look at us.
If you announce this, it means you must make actual reductions. If not, you tell people we can only reduce vacant positions, which will have some totally secondary effects, as it is possible that two or three managerial positions that rely on these vacant positions may be abolished, but real effects will not be seen," the Prime Minister further explained.
According to the Prime Minister, this type of revitalization measures must also be prepared.