Spanish Early Retirees Say Pension Cuts Are Unfair
Listen to the story
José Manuel is retired. He worked and paid money to the state for 44 years. This is called contributing.
José Manuel retired early. This is called early retirement. Now his pension is lower every month. He thinks this is unfair.
He said: 'They have cut my pension unfairly every month.' He asked why the government does not stop this.
Pepe is another worker. He paid into the system for more than 45 years. His pension was cut by 24%. This cut is for life.
Pepe says this is a discrimination. He thinks early retirees are treated worse than other workers.
News reports say a plan to end this problem has been delayed again. This happened because of an early election.
Many early retirees are angry. They want the government to act now, not later.
Vocabulary7 words
- retired
- not working anymore because of age
- contributing
- paying money regularly into a system
- early retirement
- stopping work before the normal age
- pension
- money paid regularly after you stop working
- unfair
- not right or not equal
- discrimination
- treating people in a bad, unequal way
- election
- a vote to choose a government
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Quiz
Answer key
1. 44 years 2. They are unfair 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
José Manuel is _____. He worked and paid money to the state for 44 _____.
José Manuel retired early. This is called early _____. Now his _____ is lower every month.
He said: 'They have cut my pension _____ every month.'
Pepe paid into the system for more than 45 years. His pension was cut by _____%.
Pepe says this is a _____. He thinks early retirees are treated worse.
News reports say a plan to end this problem has been _____ again.
This happened because of an early _____.
Many early retirees are _____. They want the government to act now.
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