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ILO instruments
The ILO has always been committed to the issue of ageing, specifically in elaborating international labour Conventions in the field of invalidity, old age and survivor’s insurance. The most comprehensive instrument is the Older Workers Recommendation, 1980 (No. 162) which aims to protect the right of older workers to equality of treatment and stresses the measures that should be implemented to protect their needs. Amongst the Conclusions concerning Human Resources Development and Training, adopted in the June 2000 Session of the International Labour Conference, the Committee highlighted that education and training are crucial to prevent and combat social exclusion and discrimination, particularly in employment. In order to be effective, they must cover everyone, including disadvantaged groups. Therefore, they must be carefully targeted at women and persons with special needs, including older workers.
Skills development is crucial for older workers
Training and continuing education are crucial in helping older workers to adapt to changing demands and opportunities as well as to avoid their involuntary retirement. The demand for new skills and knowledge places older workers at a disadvantage, as their training earlier in life is likely to be obsolete. Age discrimination underlies many of the difficulties faced by older workers. The ability of older workers to learn new skills are sometimes questioned and these biased attitudes work against the efforts of older workers to find new employment. There is ample evidence that the prejudices hold towards the abilities of older workers are unfounded. The conclusion being drawn from research is that the average difference in work performance between age groups tends to be significantly less than the differences between workers within each age group.
The ILO’s World Employment Report 1998-99 emphasizes the need for training throughout the working life. The report suggests that governments should develop policies aimed at avoiding premature exclusion of older workers from the labour market.
The potential of ICTs to extend working lives
The ILO’s forthcoming World Employment Report 2000-01 devotes a section to older workers. It stresses the potential that ICT offers to enhance the contributions and quality of life of older workers and argues that the opportunity lies in innovative technological, social and organizational responses. However, the section also notes that ICT is posing challenges to the older workforce for instance, related to age discrimination.
Ageing raises important gender concerns
Many older women lack basic literacy and numeracy skills. They are also less likely to undertake paid work than older men and where pension schemes do exist, they are less likely to be eligible to receive pensions. The ILO’s Gender Promotion Programme is undertaking extensive work on older women workers. A report entitled “Realizing Decent Work for Older Women Workers”(pdf file) has been published and a special event on the topic was hold at Beijing +5 in New York.
Social protection is affected by Ageing
Social Protection is part of decent work. The objective of most social protection schemes is to provide access to health care and income security. One of the key global problems today is the fact that more than half of the world's population are excluded from any type of social security protection.
Ageing and pensions
Countries are facing serious concerns about the viability of pension systems as more and more persons are becoming pensioners. A key challenge will be to mitigate the effects of a falling share of working age population by increasing the economic participation of older people. In developing countries, to be able to retire from work is a luxury few older people can afford and older people continue to work in the informal sector in order to afford a living. For this majority who enjoy no pensions coverage, the possibility of being socially excluded is a threat.
Ageing, health care and financing of health systems
For older persons, health tends to be the main expenditure and health services will have to adapt to new demands. Therefore, financing of health systems will be one of the main challenges for countries. In countries where there are few social services, the family often takes on the responsibility of caring for frail older people. However, emerging pressures and trends increasingly force older people to rely on themselves. In countries where HIV/AIDS prevalence is high, an increasing number of older people become the principal carers of younger family members with HIV/AIDS and their children.
Ageing and migration
The ILO's concern vis-à-vis migration replacement is based on two major reasons, i.e. the conditions in which migration takes place; and medium and long-term consequences for both countries of origin and recipient countries. The situation of migrant workers performing illegal work and ageing while falling outside the realm of social protection, thereby not having access to pension schemes and adequate health services, is of great concern to the ILO.
ILO’s involvement in major events
G8 Symposium and Government Conference on Active Ageing, Tokyo, September 1999
The objective of the symposium and the conference was to exchange views and experiences with regard to policies in Japan, Europe and North America for the employment of older persons and their social participation, and to discuss desirable policies of active ageing. Upon the request of the organizers the ILO submitted a report entitled “Ageing of the labour force in OECD countries- economic and social consequences” .
Experts Meeting to Develop a Policy Framework and Plan of Action on Ageing, Kampala, Uganda, 27 November-1 December 2000
The objective of the meeting was to develop a Policy Framework and Plan of Action to guide OAU Member States as they develop their National Policies and Plans of Action on Ageing. The meeting was jointly organized by the OAU and Help Age International, in collaboration with the government of Uganda. The ILO was actively involved in this event and a statement was delivered by the ILO during the opening.
UN Economic Commission for Europe; Experts Seminar on Ageing, Geneva, January 2001
The ILO also participated in the abovementioned Seminar which was part of the preparatory process for the ECE Ministerial Conference on Ageing which will take place in Berlin in September 2001. The ILO presented its views notably on: (i) the labour market links with social expenditure (ii) income security for the elderly via pensions systems and (ii) the costs of health care.
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