Tradie’s sign resonates with thousands of Aussies fearing retirement age rise

An image of a hardworking tradie with an exceptional message is going viral though his plea could be falling on deaf ears.

A recently resurfaced photo of a hardworking tradie expressing his concerns about gradually lifting the retirement age has gained significant support online.

Many individuals opposing the plan to raise the pension eligibility age from 65 to 67 rallied behind the image, which has garnered attention as Australia’s pension age prepares to increase to 67 on July 1 of this year. Researchers even suggest that the retirement age may need to rise to 70 by 2050.

The photo, believed to have originated in 2018, depicts a tradesman holding a sign that boldly states, “Only a bloke who’s worked in an office his whole life would think you can work until you’re 70.”

The man’s sign resonated with thousands of Aussies. Picture: Twitter

The sentiment expressed in the image resonated with blue-collar workers who argue that physically demanding labour becomes increasingly tricky as individuals approach their 70s.

Numerous individuals used social media to share the photo and express their frustration with the impending change.

One person commented, “My body is just tired, as is my husband’s, who is 66. We both need to just rest now. We had planned on retiring at 65. Then they changed the goalposts.”

Another 65-year-old butcher with 43 years of experience said, “I think I’ve done enough, and my body agrees.”

A third person chimed in, “My body is physically worn out, so I 110 per cent agree with his poster.”

Critics of the retirement age increase argue that politicians and bureaucrats need to comprehend the challenges of physically demanding work for such extended periods.

One individual remarked, “I would like to see all politicians work a week as a bricklayer, a boilermaker, a plumber, or a builder – doing what we did to 65. They couldn’t last a week.”

Currently, Australians born between July 1, 1952, and December 31, 1953, can access a pension wage at the age of 65 years and 6 months. However, those born after that date will have to wait until they turn 66. On July 1, Australia will unify the retirement age for all citizens, ending more than a decade of different retirement age criteria.

Nevertheless, experts argue that this may not be the end of the matter.

A group of academics, led by Professor Hanlin Shang from Macquarie University Business School, released a report suggesting three additional increases in the pension age over the next 27 years.

They propose raising the retirement age to 68 by 2030, 69 by 2036, and eventually 70 by 2050. Professor Shang points to Australia’s low birth rate as a key factor impacting the future workforce.

He explains, “Less people in the working group and more in retirement will make the old age dependency ratio (OADR) higher.”

“What this means is there are fewer working people to support elderly people, and this will create a burden for the government pension system.”

The opposition to raising the retirement age is not exclusive to Australia.

In France, civil unrest erupted on January 19 this year, organised by opponents of a pension reform bill proposing an increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64.

France during strikes over highly contested pension reforms which President Macron pushed through despite months of protests. Picture: JEFF PACHOUD / AFP

The strikes caused widespread disruption, including piled-up street garbage and public transport cancellations.

In March, the French government used Article 49.3 of the Constitution to push the bill through the parliament, triggering intense protests and two failed no-confidence votes.

The union-organised strike action, combined with the government’s efforts, resulted in increased violence during the protests, leading to criticism from the Council of Europe for the “excessive use of force by agents of the state.”

French President Emmanuel Macron’s approval ratings have also suffered; as a result, dropping to 30 per cent in May 2023 from 38 per cent in December 2022.

Originally published as Tradie’s sign resonates with thousands of Aussies fearing retirement age rise