Financing the 13th AHV pension remains a sticking point
Published: Wednesday, Mar 27th 2024, 18:21
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The Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (SGB) and the SP would like to finance the 13th AHV pension exclusively through salary contributions. The employers' association, trade association and Economiesuisse prefer financing solely through VAT. The SVP also rejects financing through salary deductions.
According to the SGB, the 13th AHV pension should only be financed through an increase in salary contributions. SGB President Pierre-Yves Maillard (SP/VD) described the Federal Council's proposal as "moderate". According to the trade union federation, financing via salary percentages is "decidedly social". Moreover, it would only require an amendment to the law, which would enable rapid implementation.
Financing via salary percentages is the solution for financing the 13th AHV pension with the least impact on purchasing power. According to the SGB, it should hardly be felt by the population. This is because social security contributions have fallen noticeably recently and are likely to fall even further. The additional financing for the 13th AHV would therefore "only lead to a reversal of these reductions".
The trade union umbrella organization Travailsuisse stated that it would make sense to first increase wage contributions. An increase in VAT would place an excessive burden on low incomes and would require a mandatory referendum.
The SP also believes that "social financing via wage contributions" is needed. The SP had already transparently demonstrated during the referendum campaign that additional social financing could be achieved by means of additional salary percentages. The party remains committed to this.
Employer for third variant
On Wednesday, the Swiss Employers' Association expressed its disappointment that the Federal Council did not propose a third option, namely financing via VAT percentages. The association is against wage contributions and in favor of processing via VAT.
The umbrella organization Economiesuisse and the Swiss Trade Association (SGV) also expressed their views in this regard. For the SGV, "a mixed package with a moderate increase in the retirement age and a slight increase in VAT rates is needed.
From the point of view of intergenerational fairness, Economiesuisse said that the fairest way to cover additional AHV funding requirements would be via VAT. The burden of the additional costs would thus be borne as widely as possible.
The employers' association also demanded that everyone, including pensioners, should contribute to the additional costs. Passing the costs on to the working population once again would be a lack of solidarity. An increase in salary percentages would make work even more expensive and put the Swiss economy at a competitive disadvantage.
Pensioners should also pay
Financing the 13th AHV pension exclusively through salary contributions is out of the question, explained GLP National Councillor Jürg Grossen on Platform X. Pensioners also help to finance it via VAT, which is nothing but fair.
For its part, the FDP announced that it rejects tax increases on the backs of the middle classes and SMEs. The introduction of a 13th AHV pension should not lead to an additional burden on households.
In addition, the FDP believes it is too early to determine the "funding level". If the premium initiative is accepted in June, additional costs of up to CHF 11.7 billion per year (from 2030) would have to be covered.
According to its own statements, the center is very critical of the reduction in the federal share of the AHV. The options being considered to compensate for this funding (VAT increase and salary deductions) would have a lasting negative impact on purchasing power.
Center Party leader Philipp Matthias Bregy wrote on X that in the short term, a mix of higher VAT and higher wage contributions was needed; wage contributions alone would not work. In the medium term, financing should not place an additional burden on the middle class.
Savings in the area of asylum and development aid
The SVP proposes an additional financing option. The 13th AHV pension should be financed through savings in the area of asylum and development aid.
According to the SVP, even higher wage deductions would make work in Switzerland even more expensive and thus weaken the competitiveness of Switzerland as a workplace. In addition, employees and the younger generation would have to bear the additional costs unilaterally. "It would be more honest and fairer to compensate for the funding gap with an increase in VAT," the SVP continued.
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