A new change to the recalculation of pensions. Increases

The recalculation of pensions could undergo important changes, given a new legislative proposal that comes with good news for certain categories of pensioners. This initiative, with a high chance of being approved, provides for increased pensions for retirees who worked in special working conditions or in work groups, as well as for those who retired due to a disability.

Even if the recalculation of pensions has already been carried out, there are categories of pensioners who have been disadvantaged by the new legislation, especially those with a contribution period of less than 25 years. According to an article published by Newsweek, these pensioners, who worked in difficult conditions, did not benefit from the appropriate increases, being excluded from the award of bonus points. Current law treats years of hard work similarly to those spent in the office, which has created inequities among retirees.

Proposed legislative changes

To correct these injustices, the unions have proposed an amendment to the pension law that provides for additional increases for workers in I and II work groups, as well as for people who have acquired a disability. This initiative has a good chance of being passed in Parliament and would bring significant benefits to these pensioners.

Thus, people who worked in the II work group they will receive a 40% monthly score increase for each month worked under these difficult conditions. At the same time, those who carried out activities in work group I or in special conditions will benefit from higher increases:

• 95% for periods worked in activities with radiation exposuresuch as research, exploitation or processing of nuclear raw materials.
• 75% for work carried out in mining unitsfor personnel who worked underground at least 50% of the normal monthly working time, as well as for other activities mentioned in the legislative annexes, such as civil aviation or the armaments industry.

Activities affected by the proposed changes

The legislative initiative considers a wide range of activities that involve a high degree of difficulty and risks for workers’ health. These include:

• Work in civil aviationfor the navigation staff;
• Armament productionincluding the handling and manufacture of explosives, ammunition and other dangerous products;
• Shipbuildingin specific activities such as welding, galvanizing and insulation with toxic materials;
• Electricity production in thermal power plantsfor personnel directly involved in coal mining and energy production;
• The car industryin activities such as casting of steel parts, their forging and other hazardous operations.

The impact on pensions

In addition to the mentioned categories, the legislative proposal stipulates that all jobs under special working conditions will benefit from a contribution period for periods of medical leave or rest, if the employee worked under these conditions before entering the leave.

This initiative brings welcome redress for workers who carried out work in particularly difficult conditions and for whom the recalculation of pensions did not properly reflect the contributions and risks taken.