What the Leaders Are Saying

 | October 19, 2005

What the Leaders are Saying

"If the pension system changes every time there is a change in government, the public will be inconvenienced. I am saying that rather than make it an issue of the election, it should be discussed by the ruling and opposition parties."
  — Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister, Japan

"Aged residential care deserves to be funded at a level where we can have pay parity with the public hospital nurses. If this does not happen, the appalling turnover rate of 29 percent in aged residential care will continue, and we will lose more nurses and caregivers."
  — Martin Taylor, CEO, HealthCare Providers, New Zealand

"Pension crises are often associated with an aging population, which is misleading. In the MENA [Middle East and North Africa] region, where 60 percent of the population is made up of young people, pension systems are already facing financial problems."
  — Christiaan Poortman, Vice-president, World Bank

"China is a rapidly emerging economy and major player in international trade. It is time for a policy dialogue between the EU and China on employment and social affairs issues."
  — Vladimir Spidla, Commissioner, Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, European Union

"We will use Norway’s great opportunities and income on the common good: jobs for all, good schools, security and care for the elderly."
  — Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister Elect, Norway

"The rising pensions pressure enhances the economic problems, because of higher premiums. Moreover, it affects a basic sense of security on state pensions, health care and other communal facilities. The build-up of pensions shouldn’t be a yo-yo of economic ups and downs."
  — Gerdi Verbeet, MP, Labor Party, the Netherlands