REPORTAGE
The French government is in a seminar this Sunday, to stall the roadmap on pension reform. Trade unions and employers were again consulted this week, and everyone has in mind the great social mobilization planned Thursday against the future reform.
Every Sunday from 13h to 14h, the Carnets du monde explore and tell the daily life of other cultures, their perception of the news and our country
Will it be necessary to work older? Will pensions be lower, higher contributions? Many questions remain about the future text, which should eventually establish a single, universal, rather than an existing, regime. But that's nothing compared to the puzzle that faces Japan!
Shock measurements for a system that goes into the wall
With 28% of the population over 65, a world record, Japan is in a delicate situation. The pension system goes straight into the wall. Pensions have to be paid more and longer because the Japanese live more and more old. And there are fewer and fewer active contributors to pension plans, because of a phenomenon of low birth rate.
How does the country intend to react? Recently, two official reports provoked a thunderclap in public opinion. A first study flatly recommended each Japanese to set aside 20 million yen - which is about 170,000 euros - before the age of 65. The second came to warn that the amount of pensions would decrease in the year 2040. It will only correspond to 50% or 40% of the salary received before retirement, against more than 60% at this time.
Heard on europe1:
20 million to save before 65 ?! But I'm 35, me! I should have been told earlier
These ads have paralyzed the Japanese. "20 million to save before 65 years old!" But I'm 35 years old, I should have told me earlier, "reacted a Tokyoite at the microphone of Europe 1." The older we get, the less resources we will have but our health care costs are going to increase because of the cost of health care - it's so stressful as a prospect that I'm trying not to think too much about it, "says another. "It's painful, I do not see myself working at all until 75 years old!", Continues a third. "This pension system will become too heavy a burden for future generations," concludes one last.
Of all the Japanese who are preoccupied with their old age, there are many women. Because in Japan, they occupy twice as often as men precarious and irregular jobs. And they often have incomplete careers. "I did not start working until four years ago when, after my divorce, I had to live on my own, I can barely make ends meet. you do not think I can afford to save money at all, "says a cashier interviewed by Europe 1.
55% of Japanese seniors continue to work
One in two Japanese retirees currently have no other resources than their small pension. "You see, that's all I have left as money until the end of the month," shows a 66-year-old widow. By "that", it is necessary to understand the 600 to 700 yen which remain to him per day to eat, ie five to six euros. As a result, she only has two meals a day, not three.
In Japan, one senior in five lives below the poverty line, this is the record of the industrialized countries. This explains why many retirees continue to work: this is the case for 55% of men and 35% of women. In total, that's nine million working seniors. On their own, they represent 13% of the active population. It's twice as much as in France.
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It will be necessary to reduce expenses, being more equitable in terms of social benefits
"There are not 36 solutions, there are 2. First, increase revenues, so make sure there are more people contributing to the pension plans. should be more flexible: agree to employ older staff, not just full-time, but also part-time, as many pensioners would like, "said Yuri Okina, a specialist in pension plans.
"Then, it will reduce spending, being more equitable in terms of social benefits.In such a system, the well-to-do seniors would see their health care expenses less repaid by the Sécu that disadvantaged older people," says the specialist .
The state should force companies to keep their staff up to 70
For the time being, the government has been slow in deciding on the reduction of state spending, particularly on the reimbursement of health expenses. A politically sensitive subject, given the electoral weight of the elderly. On the other hand, we can see more clearly on the other major axis of the reform: how to make more people contribute to the pension plans, which would make them out of the red. The state will no doubt force companies to keep their older staff up to age 70 who wish to continue working, and no longer keep them until age 65, as they are now.
Japan will also try to help the 30% of Japanese women who are not employed to find one. Often because they had to renounce the birth of their child, because of the shortage of nurseries. So we try to reduce this shortage by creating crèche places.
Last measure envisaged: all precarious workers should be allowed to contribute to the main pension scheme. Today, this plan is reserved for regular and full-time employees. The precarious, they, have access to a sub-pension plan that feeds the coffers of the Secu. However, they are very numerous, in Japan: 40% of employees hold a sub-statutory job.