MEPs propose action to improve the situation of older women in Europe

On 13 September, the European Parliament adopted a non legislative resolution calling for measures to facilitate and increase the active participation of older women in the labour market and help reduce the risk of poverty which is significantly higher among this group of the population. This resolution, drafted by Edith Bauer (EPP, Slovakia), calls for a multi-dimensional approach of the situation of older women, taking both gender and age into consideration, and for the adoption of measures in different areas impacting directly on older women’s situation in the fields of employment, pensions and health care.

MEPs acknowledge that women are often penalized at the work place and in their pension entitlement due to fragmented careers resulting from their family responsibilities and lower earnings. Regarding the issue of health care, they also note the crucial role of screening and preventive health care for older women and encourage the member states to better support the families who care for dependent persons.

Among the proposed measures are:

• end the mandatory retirement age;
• tackling gender discrimination in the work place through implementing the principle of equal pay-equal work
• addressing gender discrimination in pension entitlements in integrating gender equality into national pension reforms;
• improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of care (whether care provided by women to dependent persons or care received by women);
• promote inter-generational projects for older people

 AGE welcomes this resolution, which is fully in line with the comprehensive approach we are promoting and includes many of our recommendations to fight the discrimination and poverty faced by an increasing number of older women.

Click here to access the Mr Bauer’s report