The piece highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the Open Pension Funds (OFE) in Poland, which were initially designed to begin transferring assets to ZUS ten years before a person reaches the universal retirement age. With the upcoming transfers affecting those born in the 1970s who have substantial assets in OFE, there is growing concern about the sustainability of these funds as they face declining membership and lower contributions. It is noted that women are already experiencing these transfers, indicating that the system is in a pivotal phase.

Experts warn that the number of OFE members has been decreasing for years, and without structural changes to the OFE system, they predict a further decline in member numbers and worsening financial balances, even in the face of rising stock markets. Oskar Sobolewski, an expert in pensions and labor markets, emphasizes that as fewer new members join and contributions dwindle, the net balance of the funds will inevitably turn negative.

Ultimately, the future of the OFE hangs in the balance, with calls for review and potential reform to ensure its viability. The discussion encompasses broader implications for Poland’s pension system as it navigates between private funding through OFE and the state-run ZUS, raising questions about how retirees will be supported in the coming decades if reforms are not implemented.