NETHERLANDS - Whilst most workers within government and education appreciate the need for working longer, 50% of them would like to work up to 10 years part-time before full retirement, says civil service scheme ABP.

Forty percent of civil servants and teachers are prepared to work an extra year, if it leads to a 5% increase in pension. The survey of 2,500 employees was conducted in cooperation with ABP’s ‘levensloop’ arm Loyalis and Maastricht University.

According to ABP, the possibility of a part-time pension and flexible working hours contribute the most to employees’ willingness to work longer. More days off and a greater appreciation at work are important factors as well.

“Of the employees who are willing to work longer for a 5% rise, a quarter is prepared to do so for half a year,” it found.

Last year, ABP already introduced a Choice Pension. This allows workers to retire between the ages of 60 and 70, receiving a pension which is the larger according as the period they are active.

The ageing within the civil service and education is greater than within the Dutch labour market as a whole, in which every year 3% of the workers need to be replaced until 2010, ABP explained.

“Within the market sector, 20% of the workers is over 50, whilst 31% of the teachers is within this category.”

ABP said it is looking at the effects of current schemes on part time retirement now.