Developing a Comprehensive Active Ageing Strategy for Longer and Better Working Lives

Current demographic situation in Latvia indicates ageing and depopulation trends, especially between working-age populations, which stresses the importance of efficient use of the existing labour force potential. Latvia is in the process of increasing the statutory retirement age. The standard (legal) retirement age for men and women, starting from 2014, increases gradually from 62 years by 3 months per year, until reaching 65 years in 2025.

In 2014-2016 (from March, 2014 to February, 2016), the Ministry of Welfare implemented a project on Active Ageing co-financed by the European Commission “Latvia: Developing a Comprehensive Active Ageing Strategy for Longer and Better Working Lives”. The objective of the project was to develop an evidence-based and comprehensive Active Ageing Strategy in Latvia that would facilitate longer and better working lives, taking into account the considerable demographic challenges that the country is currently facing.

Within this project the World Bank carried out a study “The Active Aging Challenge for Longer Working Lives in Latvia and gave recommendations for the improvements in Active Ageing situation and for developing an Active Ageing Strategy.

As a result, a conceptual report “Active Ageing Strategy for longer and better working lives in Latvia” was prepared after holding discussions with social partners and ministries involved and adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on 6 September, 2016. The following priorities were set:

• Employment: inclusive labour market for older people;
• Education: educated and knowledgeable older workers responding to changing labour market conditions;
• Health: healthy and physically active older people, who can remain active and independent for as long as possible;
• Social protection: socially protected older workers.

For more information on Active Ageing see also section Labour Market Reports and Statistics.

With the support of the European Union the Ministry of Welfare is implementing an active ageing project „Latvia: Developing a Comprehensive Active Ageing Strategy for Longer and Better Working Lives".

The objective of the project is to develop an evidence-based and comprehensive active ageing strategy in Latvia that would facilitate longer and better working lives taking into account the considerable demographic challenges that the country is currently facing.

Specific tasks of the project:

• to analyse the profile of the population aged 50 and older (further - 50+) (economic activity, level of education, health, others) and their labour market participation characteristics;
• to identify main obstacles, incentives and disincentives for the 50+ population to stay in the labour market;
• to assess the existing measures and identify applicable best practice examples for active and healthy ageing;
• to outline the challenges for healthy ageing and the policy measures needed to support better health outcomes for 50+;
• to evaluate the steps needed to improve the provision (both public and private), participation and effectiveness of lifelong learning activities;
• to prepare evidence-based recommendations for developing a comprehensive active ageing strategy.

Within this project the World Bank will carry out a study and give recommendations for the improvements in active ageing situation and for developing an active ageing strategy. At the same time the Ministry of Welfare has formed strategic partnership with the Austrian Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs and Consumer Protection, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of Poland and Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Estonia in order to exchange good practices and experience during study visits and seminars. Seminars will cover general active ageing issues as well as specific topics, such as employment, health, social security and care for family members.

In order to ensure a smooth implementation of the project a management team has been created, the tasks comprise cooperation with the World Bank team, assessment of the study's recommendations and developing proposals for the active ageing strategy.

The project implementation period is from March, 2014 to February, 2016.

World Bank report "The Active Aging Challenge for Longer Working Lives in Latvia"