Older Workers in Changing Social Policy Patterns

Datos Bibliográficos

ID12967456
AutoresNathalie Burnay (0000-0003-1819-3405, University of Namur, autor de correspondencia)
Año2010
Volumen3
Número2
Páginas155-171
Fecha de publicación2010-01-12
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaStudies in Social Justice (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1911-4788 • E-ISSN: 1911-4788
EditorialBrock University Library (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.26522/ssj.v3i2.1013
OpenAlexW1926530704
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas10

Compared to other European countries, the employment rate of older workers in Belgium is rather low. This paper argues that one of the most relevant factors underlying the problems of this low employment rate in Belgium is the social policies directed at older workers. Indeed, when unemployment became a widespread phenomenon in the1970s and 80s, early-retirement schemes were designed to alleviate the financial implications on an aging workforce. The government encouraged anyone over 50 to leave the labour market through early retirement schemes, unemployment payment programs, medical retirement, and career breaks. These practises were based on a wide consensus of government, business, and workers.However, for some years now, international organizations have been concerned about the viability of pension systems and their ability to achieve their objectives. In recent years, different factors have led policy makers to rethink this policy. But changing the trend and keeping people on the job has proven more difficult than foreseen. The transformations of public policies begun at the dawn of the 21st century radically changed the balance between the state, workers, and employers, who had all previously seen early retirement as favourable. This paper also tries to show how early retirement is not simply a desire to escape, but can also be explained as an aggression against the person by the labour market. Leaving professional life early thus seems more to be a case of necessity, in fact not a choice at all, but an obligation, or even a sacrifice, and must be seen in the perspective of professional duties and their evolution

Aging in the American workforce · Business · Economic growth · Economics · Government (linguistics · Labour economics · Mandatory retirement · Market economy · Pension · Public policy · Retirement age · Social policy · Unemployment · Workforce · Employment and Welfare Studies · Retirement, Disability, and Employment · Social Policy and Reform Studies · Finance

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