More than 1000 employees in the city of Vienna retired in 2024. Remarkable: only a break – exactly 98 people – regularly came to the statutory retirement age. No less than 91.1 percent of the resting position took place prematurely.
This is an untenable condition for the Viennese ÖVP: club chairman Harald Zierfuß and spokeswoman for the seniors Ingrid Korosec speak of an “system of early pension” that is neither fair neither grandchildren “.
The criticism mainly ignites at the age of retirement. While federal employees retire on average at 62.7, this is only 61.01 years with Viennese magistrate officials. A structural problem, according to Zierfuß: “The city can no longer afford to retire more than 90 percent of the staff.”
City refers to the legal situation
The city of Vienna, in turn, resists: people simply adhere to the applicable legislation. According to the official regulations, there is the right to transfer pension – for example in the case of difficult work or long. In 2024, 92 officials were retired due to night or heavy work pensions, 300 more after 45 years of pension- on average at 62.7 years. In addition, 345 employees have applied for their retirement from the age of 60, which is legally permitted as long as there are no official interests.
The city also refers to plans to gradually increase the actual retirement age. Part of the government program is a package of measures, including an improved operational integration management after longer sick leave. The thrust: Long -term employees may not be pushed into the early sign, but must be kept in the work process.
Structural problem or a welfare system?
In fact, a glance at the invoice is shown: the share of early retirement has been consistently high in recent years – in 2024 it was even higher than in the four years before. At the same time, the share of those who resign due to permanent disability decreased to around 24 percent. A development that also reveals scope for a more active personnel policy. Whether you consider the Viennese model as a reform or as a caring in the interest of employees – opinions differ. One thing is clear: with more than two billion euros in pension payments per year, the subject is no longer a secondary location for the city.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
