Working more, working less

Working fewer or more hours: your pension accrual will change

How much pension you accrue depends on your salary. If you start working fewer or more hours, your salary will change accordingly. So will your pension accrual.

• Working fewer hours: you will usually receive less salary and therefore accrue less pension.
• Working more hours: you will usually receive more salary and therefore accrue more pension.

Compensation: pay attention if you start working fewer hours

PME wants to switch to the new pension rules on 1 January 2027. This switch is expected to be beneficial for most people. However, there will be a disadvantage for others. They are expected to accrue less pension in the future than under the old scheme. This is why, at the time of the switch, these people will receive an extra amount in their pension pot. This amount is also known as compensation. This will enable us to maintain their expected pension as much as possible as well. You will only receive an extra amount if the following two conditions apply to you:

• You were born in the period from 1 February 1960 until 31 December 1988*.
• You accrue a pension with PME on 31 December 2026 and 1 January 2027.

*At an earlier stage, we inadvertently mentioned a date of 31 January 1988. That date is incorrect. It should be 31 December 1988.

If you will be working fewer hours before the switch, your salary will be lower, so the compensation you can expect will also be lower. If you will be working more hours before the switch, your salary will be higher, so the compensation you can expect will also be higher.

Generation Pact: work fewer hours and still accrue a full pension

The Generation Pact gives you the opportunity to work fewer hours, so that you can retire fully fit and in good health. However, you will continue accruing a full pension. Would you like to know more? Ask your employer or go to the website about the Generation Pact.

If you choose to join the Generation Pact, you will be eligible for compensation as normal. To calculate the amount, we will look at your salary and part-time percentage before you joined the Generation Pact.

If you join the Generation Pact and decide to reduce your part-time percentage before the switch, the compensation you will receive will also be lower.

Early Retirement Scheme

The Collective Labour Agreement for the Metalektro sector contains agreements to give employees the opportunity to retire earlier. Perhaps this early retirement scheme is something for you? Check out the options and conditions (in Dutch).

If you choose to take part in the early retirement scheme before the switch, you will no longer accrue a pension with PME after the switch and you will not receive any compensation. Take this into account if you choose to take part in the early retirement scheme. 

Contact us if you would like to know what this means for you personally, so that we can make a cautious estimate for you. This will give you a rough idea of what the compensation will mean for your expected monthly pension and whether it is worth working a little longer. Good to know: for people born in the years 1960–1962, the extra amount will not be very large. So when you make your choice, don't just be guided by the prospect of an extra amount.

You can find out more about this topic, including useful calculation examples, on the page below.

More about compensation

Unpaid leave: your pension accrual will change

If you take unpaid leave, your pension accrual will change.

• You accrue a pension for the hours that you continue to work.
• You do not accrue a pension for the hours that you take as leave.

In the case of study leave, life-course leave or sabbatical leave, you can continue accruing pension over your leave hours. Discuss this with your employer. Your employer may charge you for the contribution it pays over the leave hours. If you need help with your choice, get in touch with us.

Taking unpaid leave will not affect the amount of compensation you will receive after the switch. To calculate the amount, we will look at your salary and part-time percentage before the start of your unpaid leave.

Pregnancy leave: no change

If you are on pregnancy leave, there will be no changes to your pension. This also applies if you are on parental leave.

• You will continue accruing pension as usual.
• You do not have to arrange anything.
• You will be eligible for compensation after the switch as normal. To calculate the amount, we will look at your salary and part-time percentage before the start of your leave.

Birth leave: no change

If you are on birth leave, there will be no changes to your pension. This also applies if you are on additional birth leave. You do not have to arrange anything and will continue accruing pension.

Paid parental leave: no change

If you are on paid parental leave, there will be no changes to your pension.

• You will continue accruing pension as usual.
• You do not have to arrange anything.
• You will be eligible for compensation after the switch as normal. To calculate the amount, we will look at your salary and part-time percentage in December 2026.

Always discuss your wish to take paid parental leave with your employer.

If you would like to know more about paid parental leave, go to the UWV website.

Unpaid parental leave: impact on your pension accrual

If you are on unpaid parental leave, you can choose whether you would also like to accrue a pension over these parental leave hours.

• We will pay half of the contribution over your unpaid parental leave (up to a maximum salary of €100,731 in 2026). The other half will be charged to your employer. Your employer may charge you for the contribution it pays over the leave hours.
• If you would like to accrue a pension over your unpaid parental leave hours, discuss this with your employer. Your employer will inform us of your choice. You do not have to do this yourself.
• If you become occupationally disabled during the first 18 months of your leave, you will be insured for occupational disability, even if you choose not to accrue a pension over your leave hours.
• If you pass away during the first 18 months of your leave, your partner will receive a survivor’s pension, even if you choose not to accrue a pension over your leave hours.
• Taking unpaid leave will not affect the amount of compensation you will receive after the switch. To calculate the amount, we will look at your salary and part-time percentage before the start of your unpaid leave.