EZA MAGAZINE
EZA PODCAST

The quality of life of older workers

The seminar “The quality of life of older workers” took place in Băile Felix / Romania, between June 25th and 28th 2020. The seminar was organized by CSDR / Departamentul Educare - Formare al CSDR (Confederaţia Sindicatelor Democratice din România / Departamentul Educare - Formare al Confederaţiei Sindicatelor with the support of EZA and of the European Union.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the seminar’s format was hybrid with both offline and online participation.

The seminar was attended by 43 representatives of workers’ organisations from Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland, Poland and Slovakia.

The most important aspect highlighted during the seminar was the need to identify ways to support workers aged 55+ without diminishing their work productivity and, consequently, without diminishing work output.

People aged 55+ have special needs resulting from the reduction of their physical capacity, health issues due to the age, lack of motivation due to employers’ preference for young workers over old workers and the perspective of marginalization, which is perceived as social exclusion, due to the closing of the retirement age.

Nevertheless, all over Europe, the issue of population ageing represents a definite aspect resulting from the increase of life expectancy and the reduction of birth rate.

From this perspective, the workforce will become aged and insufficient, at a given time, given the non-adaptation of work relations and social protection.

Seminar conclusions:

  • The introduction of special provisions in collective bargaining agreements to stipulate:
    • The permanent adaptation of the work volume to the worker’s capacity in order to avoid affecting the health status;
    • Adaptation of the working environment to the old workers’ needs;
    • Flexible working hours, workplace, contracts;
    • Customized health checks;
  • Banning, by law, the laying off of workers aged 55+, except for cases imputable to the worker;
  • Providing consultancy and support services for people in search for jobs
  • Increasing access of old persons to digital technology, including the adaptation and equipment and software to their specific needs;
  • Campaigns to increase the awareness on the importance of lifelong learning and acquiring ITC skills;
  • Fiscal incentives for enterprises to invest in lifelong learning and development programs for employees, as well as to attract and employ old employees;
  • Fiscal incentives for enterprises which employ workers aged 55+.

A work visit to the host town mayor’s office was organized. On this occasion, the participants approached the issue of the local administration supporting old people. The mayor presented the projects and programs developed for old people and concrete actions to get them involved in the community’s life.