Danes have reacted angrily after Denmark‘s parliament adopted a new law raising the retirement age to 70 by 2040. The change means workers would have to labour for longer in Denmark than any other country in Europe.
Currently, the retirement age in Denmark is 67. It will rise to 68 in 2030 and 69 in 2035. People born after December 31, 1970, will see their retirement age raised to 70 after the new law was passed by 81 votes for and 21 against on Thursday, May 22.
Roofer, Tommas Jensen, 47, told Danish media the change was “unreasonable”, adding: “We’re working and working and working, but we can’t keep going.”
He told Danish outlet DK: “I’ve paid taxes all my life. There should also be time with children and grandchildren.”
A series of union-backed protests against the raising of the retirement age were staged ahead of the crunch vote.
Jesper Ettrup Rasmussen, who chairs the Danish trade union confederation, told protesters at a demo in Copenhagen on Tuesday that Danes deserve a working life that ends with dignity, not a worn out body or burned out mind.
He said Danes have lost confidence they are being listened to by authorities and urged the Danish Government to stop its “happy madness”, start listening and design a pension policy that “fits reality” not just experts’ spreadsheets.
Retirement ages vary across Europe, with the current age set at 66 in the UK. This compares to Sweden with a retirement age set at 63, Belgium at 65, Italy and Greece, both at 67.
A law passed in 2023 that raised the retirement age in France from 62 to 64 sparked protests and riots.
It was pushed through the country’s parliament without a vote by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The State Pension age has been rising in many developed countries as governments grapple with ageing populations and shrinking workforces.
In Britain, people born between October 6, 1954, and April 5, 1960, start receiving the State Pension at 66.
For people born after this date, the State Pension age will gradually increase. Anyone born on or after April 5, 1960, will see the age rise to 67.
People born on or after April 5, 1977, will see the retirement age rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046.
However, the State Pension age has been tipped by some to rise further. The International Longevity Centre thinktank has said the UK will need to hike the age to 71 by 2050 to keep costs under control.
