MPs from the GroenLinks-PvdA alliance and the SP have called on the new government to extend legislation that allows people doing physically taxing jobs to retire early.

The legislation is due to expire next year and as yet no new scheme has been put in place. The ruling gives employers a tax break if they pay pensions to workers who stop ahead of the official retirement age, which is currently 67.

“The wealthy and people who have a university degree tend to live nine years longer than people on the other side of the spectrum,” GroenLinks-PvdA MP Luc Stultiens told broadcaster NOS.

Unions and employers can agree on an early retirement scheme for some types of work on a sector-by-sector basis. If workers stop up to three years ahead of the state pension age, their employers can claim a partial tax refund on early retirement payouts.

The current system dates from 2019 when the new pension system was finalised. But talks on extending it beyond this year collapsed in December 2023.

Police unions are already taking industrial action at football matches in support of their campaign for early retirement options. The cleaning, public transport, and engineering sectors are also planning action from September.

Coalition parties BBB and NSC have both said they support extending the current package of measures, but the other two parties – the right-wing Liberal VVD and far-right PVV – have not yet made their position clear.

The ruling is said to cost some €70 million a year.