年金支給年齢 引き上げは雇用確保と一体で

＞高齢化により年金の受給者は増え、受け取る期間も延び続けている。
これは大変にめでたいことではないでしょうか。それとも姥捨て山時代へと逆行するのか。
方向感や目的意識に欠ける社説を読んでいるとフラストレーションばかり蓄積されますね。
この程度の社説ならば誰でも書けるでしょう。
ものごとの本質に迫る鋭い記事を書いて欲しいなって思いました。
（スラチャイ）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 15, 2011)
Pension reform talks mustn't ignore jobs for elderly
年金支給年齢　引き上げは雇用確保と一体で（10月14日付・読売社説）

Given the rapidly graying society and declining birthrate, discussions on raising the pensionable age cannot be avoided.
　少子高齢化の進行を考えれば、避けられない議論だろう。

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has presented three plans on raising the pensionable age for the corporate employee pension program to the pension committee of the Social Security Council.
　厚生労働省は、会社員が加入する厚生年金について、支給開始年齢の引き上げに関する３通りの案を社会保障審議会年金部会に示した。

The government already has decided to increase the eligibility age of corporate employees from the current 60 to 65 in stages, by raising the pensionable age by one year every three years until it reaches 65, the same eligibility age as in the basic pension program.
　厚生年金の支給開始年齢は、すでに、現在の６０歳から「３年ごとに１歳」のペースで遅らせ、段階的に、基礎年金（国民年金）と同じ６５歳にまで引き上げることが決まっている。

The three plans proposed by the ministry are:
　厚労省が示したのは、

-- Accelerating the pace of the current schedule by raising the pensionable age by one year every two years until it reaches the age of 65.
〈１〉６５歳への引き上げペースを「２年ごとに１歳」に速める

-- Keeping the current schedule until the pensionable age reaches 65, and then raising the age by one year every three years until 68.
〈２〉ペースは現状通り維持しながら、支給開始年齢をさらに６８歳まで遅らせる

-- Accelerating the pace of the current schedule by raising the pensionable age by one year every two years until 68.
〈３〉ペースを速めるとともに支給開始年齢も６８歳にする――の３案だ。

===

Recipients to increase

Discussions on raising the eligibility age for the public pension program became a significant part of pension reform in the comprehensive plan for overhauling the social security and taxation systems, which were compiled by the government and ruling parties in June.
　「支給開始年齢の引き上げの検討」は、政府・与党が６月にまとめた社会保障と税の一体改革案の中で、年金改革の柱の一つに掲げられていた。

The graying society means the number of pension recipients will continue to increase, while the period during which people receive pension payments will lengthen.
　高齢化により年金の受給者は増え、受け取る期間も延び続けている。

On the other hand, the number of people supporting the pension system will decrease as the birthrate declines.
一方で、少子化によって支える側の人数は減少していく。

Therefore, it is unavoidable for the government to raise the pensionable age to ensure the pension system remains stable.
年金制度を安定的に運営するため、支給開始年齢の引き上げを目指すのはやむを得ない。

However, the major premise for raising the eligibility age is to ensure people remain employed until they reach pensionable age.
　ただし、引き上げるには、その年齢まできちんと雇用が確保されることが大前提だ。

While the government is raising the pensionable age to 65 in stages, companies are obliged to keep their workers employed until they reach 65 by advancing the retirement age and reemployment, following the enactment of a law on the stabilization of elderly people's employment.
　現在、支給開始を６５歳へと段階的に引き上げている途中だが、一方で高年齢者雇用安定法が定められ、企業は定年延長や再雇用などで６５歳までの雇用確保を義務づけられた。

Both measures must be handled together.
両者はセットである。

===

Companies not doing their bit

Under the current system, however, companies can use management-labor negotiations to flexibly manage their employment system.
　しかし、現行の雇用確保義務には労使協定で柔軟に運用できる面があり、

As a result, only about 48 percent of companies continue to employ all the people wishing to work until 65.
希望者全員が６５歳まで働ける企業は約４８％にとどまる。

If this situation continues, many people will be faced with a "blank period," during which they will receive nothing after they retire until they reach pensionable age.
このままでは、退職してから年金をもらえるまで、多くの人に空白期間が生じてしまう。

As things stand now, it can hardly be said people's employment through the age of 65 is secure.
　６５歳までの雇用が定着したとは言えない状況下で、

If the public is simply presented with the plan to raise the pensionable age to 68 under these circumstances, few people are likely to accept it.
さらに年金支給年齢を６８歳まで引き上げるという案だけを示されても、国民の多くは容易には受け入れまい。

The ministry is expected to appeal to the public about the dire situation surrounding the pension program.
　厚労省とすれば、それほど年金財政は深刻だとアピールする意図もあったのだろう。

But the latest proposal gives us the impression the ministry is expediting moves to raise the pensionable age without adequately ensuring the employment of elderly people.
だが、今回の提案は、雇用対策を置き去りにしたまま、年金支給年齢の引き上げだけを急ぐ印象を与えている。

As was seen in the dispute over the medical insurance program for people aged 75 and older, the public will be frustrated if the authorities fail to take steps to win their understanding.
　後期高齢者医療の例を引くまでもなく、社会保障改革は理解を得る努力を怠ると、感情的な反発が先行してしまう。

Despite the need to revise the pension system, the government should not conduct discussions hastily.
　いくら必要な改革でも、議論を拙速に進めることはできない。

It must carefully draw up a precise plan on employment of the elderly, and present it along with the pension reform plan.
高齢者雇用の充実策を練り上げ、セットで国民に示すべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 14, 2011)
（2011年10月14日01時20分 読売新聞）