The Ministry of Labour is evaluating three potential frameworks to reform pensions for workers in demanding and hazardous professions. According to documents prepared for tripartite talks, the proposed changes aim to expand the circle of eligible workers compared to current regulations.
The government—comprising ANO, SPD and Motorists—has pledged in its program to implement pensions at age 65 and to adjust the system for demanding professions. While these issues were slated for discussion in March, the cabinet removed the item, and negotiations with employer and union representatives are now scheduled for Monday.
Three Proposed Pathways for Reform
The Ministry has outlined three distinct variants for handling pensions in high-risk roles. The first option would abolish the current savings system and extend early state pensions to include workers in the third risk category, expanding the total number of beneficiaries.
A second variant would maintain the existing early retirement for the fourth category while expanding mandatory employer savings to a larger group of workers in the third category. The third option proposes a shift where mandatory employer savings would become the universal solution for all eligible workers.
The Financial Gap and Budgetary Impact
Ministry calculations suggest that current employer contributions of five percent are insufficient to cover long-term pension costs. Authors of the proposal warned that this gap will eventually impact the state budget.
For current workers, the five percent contribution covers additional pension costs for an average of seven years in a demanding profession; however, for those with more than ten years of risk work, it covers only one-third of the expenses.
For new employees entering hazardous environments, contributions would exceed expenditures for an average of eight years. If such an employee works in a risk position for 12 years, 80 percent of costs would be covered, but this drops to 50 percent for those averaging over 20 years of risk work.
Implementation Timeline
The Ministry intends to prepare the amendment this year, with the goal of government approval by January 2027. Following cabinet approval, the legislation would then move to Parliament and the President.
The new regulations are intended to take effect in 2028. The Ministry believes this timeline provides sufficient room for the law to be passed even if it is potentially returned by the Senate or the head of state.
Current Eligibility Standards
Currently, early retirement is reserved for workers in the most hazardous fourth category, as well as paramedics and company firefighters who have completed 2,200 shifts in a risk environment. Employers pay an additional five percent in contributions for these roles, which currently cover 13,000 fourth-category positions, several thousand paramedics, and 3,000 company firefighters.
Workers in the third category—those working at least three shifts per month in conditions involving cold, heat, physical strain, or vibration—are entitled to employer savings of four percent of the assessment base. This currently applies to 116,000 positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is currently eligible for early retirement in demanding professions?
Early retirement is available to workers in the fourth risk category, paramedics, and company firefighters after they have completed 2,200 shifts in a risk environment.
What are the three options being considered for the new pension system?
The options are: 1) replacing savings with early state pensions for both third and fourth categories; 2) keeping early pensions for the fourth category while expanding mandatory savings for the third category; or 3) implementing mandatory employer savings for all eligible workers.
When are these changes expected to take effect?
The amendment is planned to become effective in 2028, following expected government approval in January 2027.
How should a government balance the need to reward hazardous work with the necessity of long-term budget sustainability?
