Templates for the first pillar
The federal referendum on AHV and upcoming initiatives on pension provision are bringing the position of the first pillar into focus - a very important topic for many music teachers in particular.
SMPV - On September 25, voters will vote on the "AHV 21" bill passed by Parliament. This provides for various measures to avert a funding shortfall in the first pillar, primarily due to demographic factors. In addition to an increase in VAT, the resolution also provides for an increase in the retirement age for women to 65. While the increase in VAT is subject to a mandatory referendum anyway, trade unions and parties on the left have launched a referendum against the "AHV 21" package of measures. In particular, the increase in the normal retirement age for women is being rejected. Overall, there are fears of a weakening of the first pillar, which has long since ceased to provide a living wage, despite the fact that this was once written into the constitution by the electorate. There are also fears of a long-term, continuing trend towards a weakening of the AHV compared to the second and third pillars. It is argued that the first pillar system is the most advantageous for most employees. This also applies to many music teachers, who often work part-time, do not earn a very high hourly wage and can often experience breaks in their working life, all of which the AHV smoothes out when calculating pensions, whereas the second pillar does not. In the latter case, pensions are also falling due to the difficult earnings situation and conversion rates are being adjusted downwards.
Two current popular initiatives are also aimed at strengthening the first pillar. On the one hand, part of the Swiss National Bank's profits should be allocated to AHV assets, which, according to the initiators, would secure the financing of the AHV for ten years. Another initiative aims to counteract the excessively low AHV pensions with a 13th AHV pension.
Information on the two popular initiatives can be found on the website of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (SGB), of which the SMPV is a member:
> www.sgb.ch/themen/sozialpolitik/detail/ahv-staerken-statt-rentenalter-erhoehen
> www.sgb.ch/themen/sozialpolitik/detail/bundesrat-ignoriert-problem-der-sinkenden-renten
