Vroegpensioen: New Agreement Ensures Early Retirement for Heavy Occupations

Details of the Vroegpensioen Agreement

The recent agreement supports vroegpensioen to allow individuals in heavy occupations to retire early. Unions like FNV are now set to present this plan to their members. The new scheme provides a framework for early retirement, offering a base amount akin to a net pension income of approximately €1500 for singles, complemented by an additional gross amount of €300 from both employers and employees.

This financial structure leads to a net total of around €1650 until reaching the official retirement age. Employers and unions will define what constitutes a heavy job and detail the final pension amounts during sector-specific collective labor agreement negotiations.

Background of Vroegpensioen Discussions

Since December 2023, discussions about a stable vroegpensioen scheme have been ongoing. With the previous arrangement set to expire in 2026, unions have pushed for a more permanent and generous solution. The objective was to ease the retirement process, especially for individuals earning lower incomes in physically demanding roles.

Earlier negotiations suggested a maximum annual income cap of €74,000 for the vroegpensioen scheme; however, this condition did not ultimately make it to the finalized agreement.