03/08/2011
By Ilonka Oudenampsen
Almost half (49%) of Dutch citizens realise the importance of pensions, although 60% feel they are not involved in the discussion about the new pension agreement, while 48% have accepted this as they believe they cannot exercise any influence anyway, according to research by Motivaction.
The research company questioned a representative group of over 1,000 Dutch people. Motivaction said that it is necessary to educate the public, because only one third of those questioned said they found themselves well informed, of which the majority (54%) cannot estimate what impact the new agreement will have on them. Of those who see themselves as badly informed, two thirds have no idea what the pension agreement is going to mean for them.
Of those who claim to be well informed, 80% see the necessity of a new agreement, but 34% believe the pension agreement is bad. Motivaction said that the media, government, social partners and pension institutions have broadly succeeded in ensuring the public knows the pension system needs to be adjusted, but they have not yet been able to get the content of the agreement across.
Those over 40 are more negative about the agreement than those under 40 (34% versus 21%), while the older generation is more aware of the fact that pensions will be less secure (55%, compared to 40% of the younger generation).
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