The Federal Council was open on Friday to the possibility of paying the 13th AVS pension once a year, in November or December. The Thurgau SVP States Councilor Jakob Stark tabled a motion to this effect last March.
In its textthe mover writes: “For me, the 13th AVS pension, just like the 13th month’s salary, is something special, which goes beyond a simple increase: it is the recognition of a benefit, a special payment at the end of the year, which gives pleasure and offers new material prospects.”
He therefore asks not to implement the initiative for a 13th AVS pension by increasing the twelve monthly pensions. “The people approved a 13th AVS pension by analogy with the 13th month of salary. And we must give it to them,” he believes.
Payment terms studied
Without providing a detailed response, the Federal Council accepts the motion. He must regulate the terms of payment in an order. The possibility of increasing the monthly AVS pension by 8.3% instead of a 13th pension in December has already been mentioned. Responding to a question in the spring session, Federal Councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider indicated that such a solution was constitutional, even if it did not exactly correspond to the title of the initiative.
At the end of March, the Minister of Social Insurance presented a strategy for financing this 13th AVS pension, through an increase in employee contributions, and possibly VAT. The competent National committee was not convinced by this project. She wants to wait for the next major AVS reform to determine the financing mechanism for the 13th pension.
>> Read also: The financing strategy for the 13th AVS pension does not convince the National commission
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