Older workers and employment policies: which role do the social partners play?

Insofar extension of working lives is in the agenda of the EU institutions and of most European countries, concrete measures need to be taken so that older workers are given the opportunity to continue working and to do it in conditions corresponding to their health and physical shape. Consequently, these measures comprise working conditions -especially working time arrangements-, health and safety measures, training, anti-discrimination measures, as well as raising consciousness of the older workers' contribution to companies. In promoting changes in regulations or participating in discussions on the adequacy of proposed policies the social partners should have a major role. In Spain the Government outlined in 2011 -at the initiative of the social partners- a global strategy (Strategy 55+) to tackle with older workers' low employment rates. This document included quite innovative proposals -such as shorter working hours with a compensatory benefit-, but they have not been implemented. The social partners, who should have actively participated in the Strategy's development, have not sufficiently claimed for its application.