Pension pact
January 27, 2011
The Spanish government said on Thursday that it had reached a preliminary agreement with the country's biggest unions to raise the retirement age from 65 to 67.
The Spanish Labor Ministry said there was agreement in principle on the change, while union leaders said details remained to be ironed out.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has sought to raise the retirement age as part of efforts to persuade investors that Spain will not need a financial bailout like Ireland and Greece.
Retirement payments are a major drain on the Spanish economy. The Finance Ministry said pensions could account for up to 14 percent of Spain's public spending by 2050.
Pan-European demographic problem
Spain is one of many European countries whose social system is under stress due to an aging population and declining birth rates.
In November, France raised its minimum retirement age from 60 to 62, in spite of widespread protests.
Spanish workers also held several strikes last year. But after the government agreed to let workers who have paid into the retirement system for 38.5 years retire when they are 65, the two main unions, UGT and CCOO, gave their backing.
Zapatero's cabinet is expected to approve the new retirement age on Friday, after which the Spanish parliament is set to vote on it. Union backing makes it likely parliament will also approve. The new retirement age would take effect in 2013.
Author: Shant Shahrigian (AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Nicole Goebel