Government wants to push pension age to 69

"We live longer and longer but that has not been compensated with a longer working life," the review committee Pensionsgruppen said in a statement.

Social Insurance Minister Ulf Kristersson chaired the group, which had members from all government coalition parties and the main opposition party the Social Democrats.

The suggestion proposed that Swedes be given the right to keep working until 69, if they so desire. The statement suggested that representatives from the state, industry, and trade unions should sit down to discuss how to promote a longer working life in Sweden.

IN PICTURES: Swedes react to the proposal

"The discussions should also look at changing age limits, including the right to stay in employment until the age of 69," the statement read.

The pension-age question has already stirred heated emotions in Sweden, with blue-collar and care-provider unions in particular warning that their members cannot work longer than they already do.

"That would be fine if our members were healthy and alert at that age," Kommunal (municipal employees) trade union spokesperson Lenita Grandlund told Svenska Dagbladet newspaper last month when rumours of the upcoming proposal began. "But the reality is that very few even have the energy to work until pension age today."