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Creating the conditions for older people to stay in the labor market for as long as possible is just one part of the so-called “silver” economy that Lithuania intends to start.
“We are thinking of looking for additional incentives so that employers do not lay off people who are close to retirement age,” Minister Monika Navickienė of the Social Democratic faction of Seimas said this week.
According to M. Navickienė, this plan will first be tried to implement in several municipalities.
“After analyzing the experience of the country and foreign countries, to prepare (pilot project – BNS) in several selected municipalities of different sizes (later the BNS Ministry specified that in three – BNS) Lithuanian municipalities,” said the Minister.
Older people fear that the plan will stay in the drawer
2000 Zita Žebrauskienė, rector of the Medard Čobotas University of the Elderly, which unites active seniors, fears that this government plan, like many others like it, “will stay on paper”.
“How many strategies, plans, concepts, visions, measures have already been created … And nothing has been implemented. Only on paper, “he told BNS.
He regretted that each government was making “grandiose plans” rather than planning more earthly works, such as installing banks in apartment buildings so that retirees could communicate when they meet.
According to Z. Žebrauskienė, the “silver” economy project should, first of all, address the problems of health and social inclusion and education so that a person remains independent for as long as possible, and then follow the issues of promoting entrepreneurship and job.
“The labor market is limited for them,” said the rector of the University of the Third Age.
According to her, older people can become more involved not so much in the labor market as in volunteering in various fields, in training other older people.
“We would free young people for other jobs,” Z. Žebrauskienė told BNS.
Seniors would be supported by internships, job sharing
Eglė Radišauskienė, CEO of the Lithuanian Business Confederation (LVK) and former Deputy Minister of Social Security and Labor, doubts the idea of testing the “silver” economy concept in several districts. It is not clear why such a model was chosen.
According to her, the first thing to ask yourself is what older people themselves want, to know who would keep them in the labor market, to negotiate with companies.
“We would not need pilots for municipalities, but we would need pilots for certain branches where there is a need for older workers. The silver economy combines various sectors, technologies so that people stay in the labor market for as long as possible, so that they can take care of themselves and share their experiences ”, commented BNS.
According to E. Radišauskienė, it is necessary to work directly with companies to keep these people in the labor market, invest in them and employ them.
“Companies don’t need money just because they get support when they hire an older person. Companies look responsibly at older people and their long-term job prospects. The employer is unlikely to need an employee in the short term,” he said. a representative of LVK.
Suggests keeping older people in the job market through internships or job sharing; this opportunity, according to E. Radišauskienė, is hardly being used now.
“The generations, young and old, could share: some to pass on experiences and others to learn by working together,” said E. Radišauskienė.
Ms. Navickienė says the project would be funded by the European Commission and 550 thousand. euros. According to her, it is planned to present amendments to the Labor Code in the autumn session of the Seimas.
The Ministry of Social Security and Labor affirms that the project aims to motivate and provide opportunities for older people to integrate into social, political, cultural life and participate in work.
The model developed and tested according to this project will be applicable throughout Lithuania.
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