Older people and decent work
Juana Aronez de Mendes, 86, runs a small vegetable and fruit stall in the Ollentay Market in the Pamplona Neighbourhood of Lima, Peru. She has been selling at the Market for 5 years. ©Antonio Olmos/HelpAge International 2008
In many developing countries, older people are one of the poorest population groups, in particular where there are no public pension schemes. Older people who are poor have no choice to work; mostly in the informal sector, in irregular, seasonal, low-paid jobs that are often strenuous. They are vulnerable due to high unemployment and under-employment, and age and gender discrimination. They have limited or no access to social protection, no income security, no legal protection for their rights as workers, and no formal support mechanism or networks. They are also disadvantaged through low education and literacy levels, poor health and malnutrition.
Decent work is a means of tackling poverty amongst older people and ensuring their right to a decent life. It is essential for sustainable development especially in the current economic crisis which the ILO predicts could push some 200 million workers into extreme poverty*. HelpAge International has undertaken studies in Bangladesh, Peru and Uganda to get an accurate picture of the issues relating to older people and work and allow the voices of older workers to be heard by decision makers. To download the full report Working for Life in English and Spanish click here.’
*ILO, Global employment trends report 2009, ‘Unemployment, working poor and vulnerable employment to increase dramatically due to global economic crisis’, press release, 28 January 2009, www.ilo.org/global/about_the_ILO/media_and_public_information/press_releases/lang–en/WCMS_101462/index.htm
