A meeting of Prime Minister Donald Tusk (PO) and deputy PM and leader of the junior coalition partner, the Polish People’s Party (PSL), Waldemar Pawlak began Thursday morning to decide on reforming the country’s old-age pension system. Despite extensive negotiations on the issue, a way forward has yet to be reached. PO (Civil Platform) wants to gradually raise the retirement age to 67 years for both men and women. Men would reach the target age by 2020 while women would have until 2040 to get used to working so long. Currently, the retirement age for men is 65, while women are eligible once they turn 60. PSL has continued to fight the proposed reforms, considering them “too radical”. It says furthermore that mothers should be entitled to an optional early retirement.
