Netherlands: unions disagree on retirement at 67

Present an alternative. The Social and Economic Council (SER) has until October 1 to present a unanimous alternative to the increase of retirement age from 65 to 67 (see our dispatch No. 090631). This reform appears more and more inevitable, in spite of speculation on the possibility that the Labor Party (PVDA) will change its mind. The increase of retirement age to 67 was one of the key items of the PVDA’s electoral campaign in 2006 for the last legislative elections. The only problem is that the reform doesn’t even please its own ranks and that it led to poor election results.
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, the CNV wants the government to impose bigger taxes on big wages and reduce the tax deductibility of interests on real estate loans. Are considered as “big wages” all exceeding the illustrious “Balkenende standards.” Debated since 2005, this standard is aimed at making the annual net earnings of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende – i.e. €185,000 – a maximum limit, in the civil service at least. However, no major measures have been taken in this respect, but the Prime Minister’s salary is use

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