On Monday 10 March, employment and social affairs ministers discussed the contribution of older people to society and the strengthening of their presence in the labour market.
The ministers explained the policies in place in their countries, including tax measures, employer incentives and active labour market policies, against a backdrop of rising retirement ages.
“Finding a job after the age of 50 remains a challenge”, as does re-entering the labour market after a break, summed up the Polish Minister, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, who pointed out that older people represent unused potential for the labour market, which requires adaptation.
Among other things, people should be encouraged to continue working in order to obtain higher pensions; employers should also be encouraged to take on more over-55 year olds, over and above temporary government aid. Taxation is also an area to work on.
For her part, the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Roxana Mînzatu, felt that flexible retirement systems are essential to prolong working life, but that they also go hand in hand with a high-quality healthcare system.
During the round table discussion, the Social Protection Committee highlighted the labour potential of the 50-64 age group, especially among women. Flexible working hours, in particular to enable people to return to work after a break, are necessary, as are tailor-made retraining policies. It is also necessary to change mindsets by explaining the benefits of extending working life.
The French Minister for Labour and Employment, Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet, spoke of the forthcoming launch of a campaign on the problem of ageism and changing perceptions of experienced workers.
The new Belgian Minister, David Clarinval, said that “we need to convince people that working longer is not only in the interests of our economies, but also in the interests” of these same older people, “so that they can remain active”, at a time when the employment rate for the over-55s in Belgium is below the European average and the country is set to move to a statutory retirement age of 67 by 2030.
For Marina Elvira Calderone, the Italian Minister, “working longer should be a free choice”, within a framework that includes agreements with the social partners, who can come up with innovative solutions.
It is necessary to encourage people to work longer, in particular by taking advantage of higher pensions.
For the Spanish Minister, Yolanda Diaz, however, extending working life is not the only way to solve the problem of manpower and job vacancies. The minister stressed the need to create quality jobs with fair wages, reduce job insecurity and attract under-represented groups, such as young people, women and LGBTIQ+ people.
“Often, the problem isn’t the postponement of the retirement age, it’s a corporate culture that refuses to call people over 52”. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)