La influencia del diálogo social en las normas que afectan a los trabajadores de edad: comparación franco-española en el contexto de la UE

This paper addresses the role that social dialogue mechanisms have had in Spain and France in recent years in relation to employment and social protection policies aimed at older workers. The flexibility of working time, together with the adaptation of safety and health measures to the requirements related to age, and functional mobility linked to health demands and the worker's abilities, are necessary measures to prevent early departure of the labour market of older workers. Also training and the necessary measures of social protection to cover the situations of need arising from long-term unemployment, suffered by many workers belonging to this group, are needed. The study confirms the discreet role reserved to the social partners, but also their limited initiative and analyses the results of social dialogue from a comparative perspective and within the framework of European employment policies.