Shift workers' early retirement to stay

(CS) Shift workers will still be able to take early retirement at 57 under the latest pension reform, according to social security minister Mars Di Bartolomeo.

While the reform and possible solutions to a pension crisis are still being debated, a parliamentary question by ADR deputy Jean Colombera, brought the response that pension regulations for shift workers are set to remain the same.

This means that workers can apply for an early pension at 57 after 20 years of shift work, provided they can prove they have paid 40 years' worth of health insurance by the time they reach 60 years old.

No types of shift work are specified in the document, though traditionally they include work in hospitals, the police and fire rescue services, as well as several kinds of factory work or manual labour.

While Mr Colombera suggests an exceptional status for doctors too, who often work more than a regular 40-hour week, Mr Di Bartolomeo refuses this claim, stating that the pension insurance is not calculated by hours, but rather days, months and years.

As in any other professions, doctors have the right to work overtime, without this having any positive effects on their pension, continued Mr Di Bartolomeo.

Mr Colombera's question touches on an issue which has been heavily debated in other countries pondering a pension reform. In Germany, early retirement for shift workers or those working in heavy manual labour, as well as high stress level jobs such as teaching, is also being debated as part of the pension at 67 reform.