Mandatory Work for the Elderly upon Retirement Age
In the heart of Europe, Germany is grappling with a significant debate on national defence and intergenerational justice. The country is moving towards reintroducing conscription, focusing primarily on voluntary six-month military service, with plans to increase trained reservists.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius aims to grow the armed forces from 180,000 to 260,000 personnel, with a voluntary scheme set to launch in May 2026. However, if voluntary uptake proves insufficient, compulsory service may be reconsidered.
President Steinmeier advocates for a broader debate on universal conscription, given the ongoing war in Europe and the need to strengthen Germany’s defence. He acknowledges that voluntary recruitment alone may be insufficient and calls for a discussion on returning to conscription in some form.
The proposal for conscription for seniors, particularly women and pensioners, is a contentious issue. Sociologist Klaus Hurrelmann has suggested this idea, aiming to address the severe manpower shortfalls amid heightened security threats and bolster reservist training. However, this proposal faces considerable criticism, with many questioning its efficiency and fairness.
Anja Weisgerber, deputy faction chairwoman for education, family, seniors, women, and youth, opposes the idea of conscripting seniors. She argues that it contradicts the "active pension" model, which encourages employees to remain professionally active. The Left party also rejects this proposal, as well as other compulsory services.
The German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) proposed an extra tax for pensioners, known as the "boomer solidarity tax," to address the unclear future benefits of the pension system for the younger generation. However, this proposal was not well-received everywhere.
Hurrelmann emphasises that expecting only the younger generation to defend the country is not fair. He argues that the younger generation is already bearing the brunt of the pension system. However, the constant pitting of generations against each other is criticised by Sarah Vollath, spokesperson for pension and old-age security policy for the Left party.
The debate continues, balancing security needs, social acceptance, and logistical challenges. Hurrelmann's proposal is for conscription to be supported by all generations if it is reintroduced. The discussion should focus on making voluntary services more attractive for both young and old, according to Vollath.
As the debate unfolds, it is crucial to remember that the proposal for conscripting seniors is currently a contingency plan rather than an active policy. The reintroduction of conscription for any group remains a complex and costly endeavour, given the past dismantling of military training infrastructure after 2011 conscription ended.
In March 2025, Katharina Schulze, chairwoman of the Greens in the Bavarian state parliament, and Florian Siekmann, the Greens' interior policy spokesman, proposed a "Freedom Service" that would apply to everyone between the ages of 18 and 67. This proposal, too, has faced significant criticism.
As Germany navigates this complex debate, the quest for intergenerational justice and a well-prepared defence force remains at the forefront of political discourse and societal conversation.
- In light of the ongoing war in Europe and the need to strengthen Germany's defense, the debate on national defense and intergenerational justice extends to the discussion of health-and-wellness and aging, with sociologist Klaus Hurrelmann suggesting conscription for seniors to address severe manpower shortfalls.
- As the debate about defense policies unfolds, the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) has proposed a "boomer solidarity tax" to address the unclear future benefits of the pension system for the younger generation, sparking debates on policy-and-legislation and politics.
- The discussion on defense and pension policies in Germany emphasizes the need for fairness and equity, with Debate Anja Weisgerber, Anja Weisgerber, and the Left party opposing conscription for seniors, arguing it contradicts the "active pension" model and is questionable in terms of efficiency and fairness. On the other hand, Hurrelmann argues that expecting only the younger generation to defend the country is not fair.
