As of 2027, several professional categories may no longer be eligible for the early retirement pension system, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) told journalists today after a meeting of the Strategic Management Thematic Committee.
She stated that political discussions continue on how to reform the long-standing and unchanged early retirement pension system. Siliņa noted that in many sectors currently eligible for early retirement pensions, salaries have increased in recent years, while the pension system has remained the same.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need to make the early retirement pension system fairer in relation to the rest of the population, who are entitled only to standard old-age pensions. For example, according to Siliņa, the average replacement rate for old-age pensions is about 40% of a person’s former salary, while for early retirement pensions, it averages around 80–90%.
Siliņa stressed the importance of determining which sectors should retain the early retirement system and which should seek alternative solutions, such as salary increases or special risk-based bonuses. “The main conclusion – just as the retirement age for old-age pensions has increased, so should the age and years of service required for early retirement pensions,” she said.
The Prime Minister also emphasized that
changes would not affect those who are already receiving early retirement pensions.
“Nothing will be taken away from them,” Siliņa promised. However, starting in 2027, certain professional categories may no longer qualify for early retirement pensions—this would apply to individuals just entering the system “from scratch.”
At the same time, if a decision is made to raise the age and years of service requirements for early retirement pensions, it will apply starting in 2027 to everyone currently in the system. “If we were to implement changes only after 20 years, the state budget would not be able to cover the costs,” Siliņa said.
Still, she stressed that this is only the beginning of the discussion—these matters must be addressed both at the government level and in dialogue with trade unions and government cooperation partners. The regulation of certain professions, such as judges, falls under the jurisdiction of the Saeima (Parliament).
Deputy Director of the State Chancellery for National Development and Cross-Sectoral Governance, Pēteris Vilks, explained that one of
the most important criteria for retaining early retirement pensions in a particular sector could be whether the job poses a risk to life or health.
This means institutions will need to assess which positions involve such risks.
The meeting also discussed ballet dancers. However, Vilks pointed out that in the cultural sector, more than 800 people qualify for early retirement pensions—not only ballet dancers.
It was previously reported that Finance Minister Arvils Ašeradens (New Unity) announced in early May that he would propose raising the early retirement age this year.
Ašeradens explained that while the age for receiving old-age pensions in Latvia has increased by five years in recent years—to 65—the age for early retirement pensions has not changed.
Politicians have been attempting to reform the early retirement pension system for years, but no changes have been implemented so far. The main reason for this has been strong resistance from workers in the affected sectors and warnings of possible mass resignations.
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