The Minister of Pensions Daniel Bacquelaine has received the Education Ministers Hilde Crevits Joëlle Milquet and Harald Moller.

Following the meeting with the Education Ministers of the three communities, Hilde Crevits Joëlle Milquet and Harald Moller, the Minister of Pensions Daniel Bacquelaine is satisfied that he has been able to lower some of the tension that had arisen as a result of inaccurate reporting on the future of pensions in education.

The meeting was characterized by a constructive climate and a willingness to listen from both sides. This has allowed to get a better picture of the concerns, interests and the way in which future pensions in the education sector can be guaranteed. Minister Bacquelaine has explained the reform of the sector in a clear and comprehensive manner:

- in order to maintain our pension system sustainable and socially performant, everyone will have to work longer. We live longer, so we will also have to work longer to ensure the viability of the system. This is a matter of collective responsibility towards our future generations;

-  we ask teachers to look at this within the framework of a common progressive effort that will last from 1 up to 3 years;

-           The calculation the person's pension is remained untouched. The teachers will still get a pension calculated on the reference salary, as stated by the Government Di Rupo (reference salary calculated as based on the last 5 years for individuals>50 years on 1.1.2012, 10 years for the others). The amount of the pension will not be reduced. On the contrary, for those who want to work longer in the future, their pension will even increase;

-           the years of study remain integrated in the calculation of the pension amount;

Anyone who is currently in prior permission or who meets the conditions to early retirement in 2015, retains the advantages of the current provisions regarding the qualification bonus.

Even those who meet the conditions to take early retirement and who choose to keep on working, keep on being entitled to the benefit of the provisions applicable on the date on which they could have retired.

 The preferential system which was granted to teachers for the calculation of the length of career (preferential bonuses) is retained until a listing of professions that meet the criteria of heavy duty is made up within the context of a social dialogue.

Minister Bacquelaine finally reaffirmed his wish to discuss all pension reforms with the social partners, as stated in the coalition agreement.

Contact:

Koen Peumans, Spokesman of Daniel Bacquelaine, Minister of Pensions
+32(0)473 81 11 06 - koen.peumans@bacquelaine.fed.be