Poland's Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy Agnieszka Dziemianowicz‑Bąk said there will be no increase in the retirement age for women or men.
The statement settles a point of contention regarding pension reform in Poland. By ruling out an increase, the minister signals a policy shift that prioritizes early retirement over the fiscal pressures of an aging population.
Speaking Tuesday on the TVN24 program "Jeden na jeden," Dziemianowicz‑Bąk addressed the possibility of equalizing the retirement age between genders [2]. She said that there will be no increase for either group [1]. Instead, she said that any potential changes to the current system would only involve lowering the age [1].
During the interview, the minister specifically targeted proposals that would link the retirement age for women to motherhood [3]. She said such suggestions were a "scandalous idea" [3].
"We say a firm no to such ideas," Dziemianowicz‑Bąk said [2].
The minister's comments come amid ongoing debates about the sustainability of the social security system. While some economists argue for raising the age to maintain solvency, Dziemianowicz‑Bąk said that the government's direction is strictly focused on the downward trajectory of retirement eligibility [3].
She said that the administration opposes any measure that would force citizens to work longer before accessing their pensions [3]. The minister's position marks a definitive stance against the trend of increasing retirement ages seen in several other European Union member states.
“"There will be no increase in the retirement age for either women or men."”
This policy stance suggests that the Polish government is prioritizing social welfare and voter appeal over the austerity measures often recommended by international financial institutions to address aging demographics. By explicitly rejecting a motherhood-linked retirement age, the ministry is also distancing itself from traditionalist social policies in favor of a more uniform labor approach.
