The strengthening of occupational pensions in the upcoming reform of pension insurance funding is on everyone’s lips. This comes paradoxically even though a new law aimed at strengthening occupational pensions (Betriebsrentenstärkungsgesetz) has only just entered into force on 22 January 2026. This “strange” timing is due to the fact that the latter is a resumption of a bill prepared by the previous government, which could not be voted on due to early elections. The text of the Betriebsrentenstärkungsgesetz aims to widen access to the scheme and strengthen it. It targets low-income employees and workers in small and medium-sized enterprises as a priority, where coverage remained insufficient.
As a Berlin correspondent for the French and Swiss press since the late 1990s, I cover a wide range of economic, political and social issues, with a particular focus on the German business and labour market. My areas of interest include co-determination, digitalisation, demographics and ESG/DEI policies.