Almost one in two Switzerland stops working before the legal retirement age set at 65. But behind this figure hide very contrasting situations, as shown in a present report. Testimonies.
Between those who can afford to leave earlier and those forced to do so, pre-retirement appears to be a powerful revealing of socio-economic disparities.
System winners
“From 60 to 70 years old, it is years that are double. These are years that are worth gold, ”says Claude-Alain Soom, 70, who left for pre-retirement at 60. This former manager was able to anticipate his departure thanks to a solid 2nd pillar and significant savings. “The fixed costs must be provided by the AVS and the second pillar. The rest is bonus, ”he explains. A comfortable situation which allows him today to take full advantage of his retirement, between travel and water sports.
![Claude-Alain Soom, 70, who left for pre-retirement at 60, benefits from his retirement between travel and water sports [RTS - Temps Présent]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==)
Claude-Alain Soom, 70, who left for pre-retirement at 60, benefits from his retirement between travel and water sports.
RTS / Present time
In contrast to the spectrum, Catherine, 62, lives with 1908 francs of AVS per month after a chopped career: “With my daughter, studies, health funds, I did not arrive with a single salary at 60 or 80% to put money. Forced to take a pre-retirement for health reasons, she now plans to request additional services. “I am not ashamed to ask for additional services. I think that when you have worked all your life, that you have contributed all your life, it seems to me that you still have the right to have this kind of services, ”she says.
Catherine, 62, lives with 1908 francs of AVS per month.
RTS / Present time
The risky bet of the chosen pre-retirement
Between these two extremes, some like Nicole, 62, bet to leave earlier despite uncertain income: “I had the impression that if I continued, I was going to grill my capital of life expectancy. A decision she does not regret, even if she admits that she had to make financial sacrifices.
Nicole, 62, was betting to leave earlier despite uncertain income.
RTS / Present time
Towards a system overhaul?
For José Ramirez, an economist, it is necessary to “rethink all this end of career and the transition with retirement” in order to prevent pre-retirement from further increasing social inequalities. “It is clear that many companies do not have a collective calculation of the impact they will have on society and on this person, of the decision they will take,” he deplores in the present time.
A system that promotes high income
For Michel Schweri, a retirement specialist, the system clearly promotes high incomes: “The robot portrait of the perfect retiree, it is a man who worked all his life, who has done a good training, who therefore has a well paid job, who has no career break, who has no divorce, which has no disease either. An observation which highlights the limits of a largely -part old age provident system on the professional career.
Time, ultimate luxury of pre-retirement
Faced with these observations, some choose to see the glass half full. This is the case of Catherine, who despite her low income, savor her new freedom: “Take the time and that is priceless. And these things are priceless. It’s worth all the gold in the world. It is a few years earned. »»
