Document Abstract
Published:
2012
Global ageing – its implications for growth, decent work and social protection beyond 2015
Supporting older people and recognising their rights to decent work and social protection in the post-2015 era
Older people account for an increasing proportion of the world’s population today, and this number continues to grow. This paper highlights that national policies and programmes should be shaped to support older people and recognise their needs for secure livelihoods, and their rights to decent work and social protection.
The author notices that most older people in low- and middle-income countries work in the informal economy, and most of them are not covered by any social protection system.
Conclusions include:
Recommendations contain:
The author notices that most older people in low- and middle-income countries work in the informal economy, and most of them are not covered by any social protection system.
Conclusions include:
- assumptions that older people cannot or are not working must be challenged and their contributions through work and income are recognised and supported
- older people’s right to social protection must be upheld by governments through social pensions and access to affordable essential services that meet their needs
- non-contributory pensions have been found to have a significant impact on the lives of older people, yet they should part of a multilayered system delivering comprehensive social protection
Recommendations contain:
- fully implement the “Decent Work Agenda” and the UN “Social Protection Floor Initiative” in the post-2015 framework
- build and use age-inclusive data sets to expose gaps in and measure poverty, inequality, capability and wellbeing across the life course at national and international level
- investment in initiatives to support older peoples’ work, including older people’s associations which increase older people’s livelihood security through empowerment, information sharing, and reduced social isolation
- improve older people’s access to information and training to enable them to explore and make use of formal and informal work and business opportunities
- encourage NGOs to develop age-friendly livelihood activities including revolving funds and in-kind support
- advocate to government for improved representation by, and services for, older people in the workplace and at community and national level
