Federal Council receives a lot of criticism for 13th AHV financing
Published: Wednesday, Aug 14th 2024, 18:10
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The Federal Council's proposal for financing the 13th AHV scheme has met with much criticism. Many parties and associations criticize the omission of the salary percentage or the reduction in the federal contribution.
A reduction in the federal contribution would be grotesque and contradict the will of the people to strengthen Switzerland's most important social security system. It is unacceptable for the federal government to pay less towards AHV pensions, the SP announced on Wednesday.
When asked by the Keystone-SDA news agency, Co-President of the parliamentary group Samuel Bendahan (VD) said that the voters' yes to the 13th AHV pension must be implemented as quickly as possible. An increase in salary contributions would be the more sensible and socially responsible financing option.
The Greens also share this opinion. They also want an immediate solution for the 13th AHV. The reduction in federal contributions is unsound and unfair, said Green National Councillor Katharina Prelicz-Huber (ZH). Financing via salary contributions is the most favorable and fairest, as everyone would pay the same amount. Financing via VAT is the wrong way to go.
Travailsuisse pointed out that VAT was being increased primarily to relieve the federal budget and reduce the federal contribution. The complete financing via VAT is not comprehensible. This would primarily mean that people with low incomes would pay the price for the 13th AHV pension, the umbrella organization of employees in Switzerland continued.
A step in the right direction?
The Swiss Employers' Association (SAV) welcomes the Federal Council's proposal that the 13th AHV pension should not be financed with higher salary percentages. Such financing would be highly unsound. By increasing VAT, everyone would contribute to the financing, including pensioners who benefit from an additional pension, wrote the SAV. Employers would still be in favor of a temporary increase in VAT.
The Center Party sees the proposed solution of increasing VAT as a step in the right direction. "The Centre Party has always emphasized that the financing of the 13th AHV pension requires a solution that is as balanced as possible and places as little burden as possible on the middle classes," said Centre Party National Councillor and parliamentary group president Philipp Matthias Bregy (VS) in the communiqué.
The Swiss Trade Association (SGV) also shares this opinion. However, the umbrella organization of the Swiss SME sector is calling for a comprehensive restructuring of the AHV.
Fundamental reform of the AHV
The Green Liberals would not have liked to see the 13th AHV financed in isolation. Ideally, this would have been resolved in the overall context of the structural reform of the AHV, said GLP Vice-President and National Councillor Melanie Mettler (BE). The financing of the AHV until 2050 must be resolved and the commissioned reform of the AHV must be pursued with vigor.
The FDP called for reliable, transparent and correct AHV figures before decisions are made on financing the 13th AHV pension. The party also wants Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider to review the debacle. The SP Social Affairs Minister must clean up the mess at the Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) and the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA), according to a press release.
For the FDP, an additional burden on the middle classes and SMEs is unacceptable. It is absolutely clear that Switzerland's most important social security system needs a structural overhaul.
©Keystone/SDA
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