Eva Demesmaeker proposes pension splitting: “Fairly sharing pension rights after divorce”

MP Eva Demesmaeker explained her proposal for pension splitting on De Ochtend, a system that would ensure pension rights are shared fairly when a couple separates. “It’s only logical that we recognise the value of caregiving responsibilities within a family,” Demesmaeker said.

The blind spot in divorce proceedings

Even today, women are still more likely than men to put their careers on hold or reduce their working hours to care for children or take on other family responsibilities. When a relationship breaks down, however, they often end up with fewer pension rights and bear the consequences alone.

“When a couple divorces, the family court looks at issues such as the family home and arrangements for the children, but pension rights are largely ignored,” Eva Demesmaeker said.

What is pension splitting?

The principle is straightforward: pension rights accrued during a marriage or legal cohabitation would be divided if the relationship ends. “The first step is for the couple themselves to reach an agreement on how they want to arrange that division.”

If no agreement can be reached, a judge should be able to make a decision based on the facts. “To ensure a fair outcome, the court would have access to official information, including data from MyPension, giving a complete overview of the pension rights that have been built up.”

“If a woman chooses to slow down her career for the sake of her family, it is only fair that those pension rights are taken into account if the relationship ends,” Demesmaeker argued. The aim is for couples who make joint decisions about their children, income and home to do the same when it comes to their pension rights.

Government cannot put a price on caregiving

A key question in the debate is whether society or the individuals involved should bear the financial consequences of caregiving choices. On this point, Eva Demesmaeker is clear: “This is ultimately an ideological debate. We believe the value of those choices should be determined by the couple themselves.”

According to Demesmaeker, it is impossible for the government to objectively assess or compensate every individual caregiving task — whether cooking, cleaning or other household responsibilities — as some have suggested.

“You cook for your children. One person goes to the market, buys fresh vegetables and prepares a meal from scratch, while another orders takeaway. How do you determine the value of each contribution? That’s simply impossible.”

Alongside pension splitting, N-VA continues to advocate structural reforms that reduce the need for part-time work. “We need a labour market that offers sufficient flexibility, and we need to ensure there is enough childcare available,” Demesmaeker concluded.