Saxony's Left Party calls for a fairer pension policy in the face of growing poverty in old age

In view of growing poverty in old age, the Saxon Left Party is insisting on a rapid solution to the problem. Party leader Susanne Schaper sees this in a pension reform. "Only the statutory pension can solve the problem - but it must be expanded and made fairer," she told the German Press Agency.

"All workers should pay contributions into the pension pot for their entire income from their job and the financial market - including civil servants, the self-employed and freelancers such as politicians." In addition, the contribution assessment thresholds should be abolished so that people with high incomes are obliged to contribute to the community of solidarity. "No pension should be less than €1,200 net per month."

Schaper - a proven social politician - had asked the state parliament for the latest figures on poverty in old age. According to these figures, the number of people in Saxony who are dependent on basic old-age benefits has continued to grow strongly. In the first quarter of this year alone, almost a thousand more people were affected, bringing the total to 18,160. In 2003, the figure was 6,156, in 2010 it exceeded the 10,000 mark.

Schaper: Poverty must not be the reward for a long working life

"The trend in old-age poverty has been pointing steeply upwards for at least 20 years. The figures for the first quarter do not bode well, and I expect to see new peaks again and again - if only because prices have risen so enormously and continue to rise, for example for food, energy and mobility," argued Schaper.

Poverty should not be the reward for a long working life. "We in the East in particular need a reliable statutory pension insurance scheme, because far fewer people here receive a company pension or pension." In addition, only a few people own their own home or can even rent it out in order to at least partially compensate for their low pension.

The statistics officially refer to the risk of poverty instead of poverty. The at-risk threshold is an income of less than 60 percent of the median income. Last year, the threshold for single people was 15,715 euros per year. For a family with two children under the age of 14, it was 33,002 euros. This is the total net income of a household including housing benefit, child benefit or other allowances. Anyone with less than this amount per month is considered to be at risk of poverty.