Labor Ministry responds to the EC letter on different retirement age for men and women

In a response to the European Commission regarding reintroducing different retirement ages for men and women in Poland, the Labor Ministry explained that the provisions on the retirement are not covered by the Equal Treatment Directive, and in many different EU member states similar solutions are in force. “We have no doubts that the provisions introducing a differentiated retirement age for women and men are normal and in line with social expectations as well as Polish tradition, and thus also in the period in which Poland entered To the European Union,” the response said. Last week, the European Commission sent a letter to the Polish labor ministry expressing its concern that reintroducing a different retirement age for men and women in Poland could violate the bloc's equality rules. The Commission noted that a small number of European Union countries still had a gender gap in retirement ages, and while they are not required to change their laws immediately, the EU expects them to take steps towards equality. Back in December last year, Poland lowered the retirement age to 60 for women and 65 for men, from the previous 67 for both sexes.