Europe 1 with AFP 6:58 p.m., January 23, 2023

Lengthened careers for women, but reduced "pension gaps" between the two sexes.

This is revealed by the impact study of the pension reform commissioned by the government and presented on Monday.

According to the latter, "the average pension for women will be increased by 2.2%" in the long term, against 0.9% for that of men, but women will see their contribution time increased. 

The pension reform will push women to extend their careers more than men, which will help "reduce the pension gap" between pensioners of both sexes, according to a document presented Monday by the government as the study of impact of his bill.

The executive's forecasts will not settle the debate on the "justice" and "equity" of its pension reform.

Especially for women, whose plight is at the heart of criticism from unions and the left.

An overall effect of six months

According to the government document consulted by AFP, the reform will have contrasting effects on them: they should earn more than men, but also extend their activity a little longer.

Overall, between the increases in the legal age (64 years in 2030), the contribution period (accelerated to reach 43 years from 2027) and the various "derogatory provisions", the average retirement age should increase from a little under 63 today to 64 and a half for future retirees who will leave in about twenty years.

Without the reform, they would stop at 64.

A global effort of six months which covers strong disparities, in particular between men and women: the difference will in fact go from simple to double between the first (4 months) and the second (8 months) for the generation of 1980, who will be able to leave retired in twenty years.

A "more marked average increase for women" that the document does not justify, but that the Minister of Labor, Olivier Dussopt, linked to "increases in the duration of contribution for maternity".

One to two years validated per child, which means that "today a certain number of insured persons retire a little early", he explained during the report of the Council of Ministers.

"The fact of shifting the legal age of departure has this consequence", he added, insisting however on the counterpart: "the average pension of women will be revalued by 2.2%" in the long term, against 0.9 % for that of men.

"Small pensions" effect

This "significantly more marked improvement", which the government does not fail to point out, is also partly due to the revaluation of the minimum pension, supposed to increase to 85% of the net minimum wage for a full career, i.e. approximately 1,200 euros gross (before possible deduction of the CSG).

Because of careers that are more often chopped up, more women will indeed benefit from this safety net: of the approximately 1.8 million current retirees who will benefit from the measure, 60% are women.

These will see their pensions increase by 6.7% on average, or 760 euros per year, against 5.1% (540 euros) for men.

The increase will also benefit future retirees more than their male counterparts: from September 1, 30% of women will benefit from it for an annual amount of 460 euros on average, compared to 17% of men for 300 euros.

Thus, "taken as a whole", the pension reform measures should "contribute(er) to reducing the pension gap between women and men".

Reflecting their "less favorable careers", with a "lower employment rate" and "lower pay", women's pensions are currently 40% below those of men, a difference reduced to 28% with pensions of reversion.

Even without reform, "the gap should still narrow", however, notes the executive: close to 75% currently, the ratio between the level of pensions for women and men should reach 83% in 2035. In the longer term , it should reach 93% in 2070.