Denmark forced to abandon plans to up retirement age
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E-mail Xinhua, May 23, 2017
The Danish government announced on Monday that it would abandon its plan to increase the retirement age by six months for failing to gain enough parliamentary support.
The plan to raise the retirement age to 67.5 years from current 67 was forced to be dropped as the government was not able to secure a majority in parliament due to objection from the Social Democrats and the Danish People's Party (DF).
If the plan is passed, it would mean the minimum age for Danes to draw pensions is 67.5 years instead of 67.
Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said it would be reasonable to adjust the issue to create greater equality between the generations and ensure the future of the country and its welfare, as the life expectancy now is longer than expected and there is also a need for extra workforce.
"However, it is tough to see any chance of finding a majority on it, so the government has decided the plans we will present in a week's time will not include that element," Rasmussen said.
The government decision was welcomed by the major opposition parties.
"It is far more constructive to look at how we can ensure that seniors who are fresh enough, fit enough and good enough physically can remain in the employment sector," DF party leader Kristian Thulesen Dahl was quoted by TV channel DR as saying.
The Danish government has proposed raising the retirement age a number of times over the past year, including in a 2025 plan proposal unveiled in last August.
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