Luxembourg: government and social partners reach an agreement on pensions National industrial relations A whole range of levers were activated in 2024 to tackle the skills shortage currently affecting a large number of countries, from strengthening vocational training to keeping older people in work for as long as possible, and from improving working conditions, particularly for women and disabled people, to attracting skilled foreign workers.
Germany: summer debate over raising the retirement age National legislation The summer debate in Germany's domestic political scene focused on the financing of the German social security system and the retirement age. Following the lead of some economists, the country's economy minister Katherina Reiche, of the conservative CDU party, opened the debate by raising the possibility of upping the retirement age.
Réglementaire France: age for progressive retirement to be lowered from 62 to 60 as of 1 September National legislation The decree lowering the age of eligibility for progressive retirement will come into force on 1 September, having been published in the French official journal on 23 July, …
Réglementaire Austria: Federal Council gives final green light to new partial retirement scheme National legislation On 17 July 2025, the Austrian Federal Council (Bundesrat) adopted the bill introducing the new partial retirement scheme by a two-thirds majority.…
Data mind RH analysis – Agreements focused on older workers more common in France but still heavily focused on end-of-career arrangements National industrial relations At a time when a bill on the employment of experienced workers is about to be adopted in France, mind RH has analysed French company agreements on the employment of older workers that have been signed since the dedicated national interprofessional agreement (accord national interprofessionnel, ANI) of 14 November 2024. Though our analysis shows that social partners recognise the need to support the employability of workers aged 50 and over, measures to facilitate early retirement remain the preferred option.
Réglementaire France: employment central to prime minister’s budgetary announcements National legislation In an alarmist speech on the state of French public finances delivered on 15 July, French prime minister François Bayrou announced €44 billion in measures starting in 2026.…
Luxembourg: government pledges not to challenge trade unions’ exclusive right to collective bargaining National industrial relations The OGBL and LCGB trade union federations and employers met on 14 July at the Ministry of State to discuss various bills the trade unions are strongly opposing.…
France: Senate adopts bill on employment of ‘experienced’ workers and development of social dialogue National legislation The French Senate has definitively adopted the bill promoting the employment of 'experienced' workers and developing social dialogue, after it was passed by the joint committee (CMP) on 8 July. The bill aims to strengthen social dialogue, better prepare for the second half of careers and facilitate the hiring of older workers, end-of-career arrangements and gradual transitions to retirement. It must now be voted on by the National Assembly in September, after the summer recess.
Austria: major pension system reform proposed National legislation On 18 June, the leaders of the parliamentary groups of Austria's governing parties (conservatives, social democrats and liberals) announced the broad outlines of a pension reform plan. The planned revamp aligns with the thinking and measures seen elsewhere in Europe: maintaining the pay-as-you-go system but extending contribution periods and raising the legal retirement age, making it easier for pensioners to work and reducing gender gaps. A bill must now be adopted by the Council of Ministers, the country's cabinet.
France: arduous work the sticking point in pension talks National industrial relations After several months of negotiations, the 18th and final meeting of French social partners convened to improve the pension reform ended in failure on 23 June. While there was agreement on improving women's pensions and lowering the full retirement age, discussions stalled on the issue of arduous work. The government met with trade unions and employers' organisations on 24 June to find a "way forward".
