Israel: Men's retirement age higher than women's, attempt to raise women's blocked

Article here. Excerpt:

'The Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee, chaired by MK Haim Katz (Likud), today unanimously approved for its first reading a bill that states the retirement age for women age will not be later than 62, against the position of the Ministry of Finance.

On the basis of the bill proposed by Katz and MK Ilan Gilon (Meretz), the current situation will remain unchanged, and women will be able to apply for early payment of their old age pensions from the age of 62, based on means tests.

Katz said, "Precisely at a time of social protest, the Ministry of Finance is trying to harm hundreds of thousands of women for no reason."

An expert source slammed the decision, calling it "populism that contradicts demographic trends characteristic of Israeli society. The decision is based on a desire to appear socially aware."
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The Ministry of Finance said in response, "The budget cost of keeping the retirement age unchanged is NIS 1.1 billion. The actuarial deficit created is estimated at NIS 4 billion. The only way to offset this deficit is by reducing men's rights in old pension funds."'