Pensions, Uil: age too high in Italy, flexible exits at 62 needed

"Italy is among the EU countries with the highest legal age for access to retirement: 67 years for both sexes". This is stated by Uil, which in a comparative analysis on Italian and European social security issues by the Social State, Economic and Fiscal Policies service adds: this "parameter, moreover, linked to life expectancy" is "destined to increase to 71 years by 2060". Hence the union's request, led by Pierpaolo Bombardieri, to reopen the debate on social security with the government. The objective, emphasises confederal secretary Santo Biondo, is to introduce a flexible pension starting at the age of 62, without penalties, with full recognition of heavy and arduous work, and guaranteeing 'the right attention for women and young people'. In the latter direction goes Uil's solicitation to 'reinstate the Women's Option under the previous conditions, with the access age set at 58 and without discriminating limitations'.

The Uil study highlights how in our country the legal exit age is already the highest in the EU, together with Greece, the Netherlands and Denmark, but at risk of being raised by a further three months in 2027 and a further two months in 2029 in the light of the increase in life expectancy to 65 calculated by ISTAT. "Quite different, on the other hand, is the situation in other European countries, where the need for flexibility, gradualness and differentiation according to the work performed is recognised," reads the dossier, which points out that "in France, for example, the access age has recently been raised to 64, with a reform that was, moreover, much contested. In Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland, on the other hand, progressive increases towards the age of 67 are envisaged, but with longer timeframes and more articulated early retirement instruments'.

Uil notes that even the Meloni government, 'which had promised to overcome the Fornero law, has adopted measures that make the path to a decent pension increasingly difficult'. Inps data in 2024 certify a 15.7 per cent drop in early pensions compared to 2023. Specifically - the study goes on to say - 'the reform of Opzione donna, the programme that allows women to retire early already with a considerable reduction in the amount, has led to a further restriction of access requirements. In 2024, in fact, there was a 70.92% drop in the number of accepted applications, which, according to the forecast for 2025, will only decrease'.

For Uil it is fundamental to open 'a structured and permanent confrontation with the government, for an organic pension reform, capable of responding to the real needs of our country'. A position that is in fact shared by the CGIL. And the Cisl also appears favourable to confrontation on pensions. The Uil relaunches the proposal of a flexible pension from the age of 62, without penalties, with full recognition of heavy and arduous work. And it also calls for the reinstatement of the Women's Option under the previous conditions, with the access age set at 58 and without discriminating limitations. Again according to Uil, 'action must also be taken to ensure that working mothers can count on 12 months of early retirement for each child, a fair recognition for the sacrifice and commitment they devote to the family and society'.