Poll: Public concerned about future ratio of workers to pensioners

Slovaks saving in the private pension pillar are rather concerned about developments vis-a-vis the proportion of the working population to the number of retirees, according to a survey that the FOCUS polling agency carried out in February. While currently for every 10 retired people there are 17 workers, a third of the respondents expect the ratio to be even in 25 years. A total of 29 percent of the respondents were even more sceptical, predicting that the number of retirees will exceed the working population in 25 years. Forecaster Vladimir Baláž of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) says that the poll shows people's awareness of the importance of the second pillar in terms of diversification of income during retirement. It also shows that they are watching the ongoing demographic changes and economic situation closely. According to the survey, 41 percent of people expect the gap between the average pension and the average net salary - currently at 57 percent - to widen in the years to come. The existence of the private pension pillar is generally viewed in a positive light - a view expressed by 79 percent of people. Only 17 percent of people have a negative outlook on the system.