Moldovan cabinet set to extend participation of elderly people in social, economic life

Chisinau, 20 December /MOLDPRES/- The cabinet of ministers today approved an action plan on the implementation of active ageing (2018-2021), in order to better manage the problems of ageing and promote measures of extending the participation of elderly persons in the social and economic life.

According to statistic data forecast, the share of elderly people is estimated to increase from 17.2 per cent to 33 percent by 2050. This means that Moldova runs the risk of entering a more pronounced demographic instability without essence interventions in policies on elderly persons’ integration, the Health, Labour and Social Protection Ministry has said.

Moldova is much below the average of the European Union countries according to the Active Ageing Index. The index for the first time ever was assessed in 2016 by the Centre of Demographic Researches , in partnership with the Health, Labour and Social Protection Ministry and the United Nations Population Fund, at as little as 27.1 points, twice less against the target goal of 57.5 points.

The actions provided for are aimed at ensuring conditions for efficient management of the problems of ageing, formation of premises for the further adaptation to a society with a higher share of elderly people. ‘’The implementation of the action plan will contribute to the raising of the awareness of the entire society to the problems and needs of elderly people, with special emphasis put on the necessity of being aware of the fact that an aged society imposes preparation of plans on population for future,’’ an informative note on the projects reads.  

The basic principle of these policies is based on ‘’the acceptance of the fact that a country with many elderly persons does not mean a society of inactive people and only consumers of resources; on the contrary, the labour potential of the persons of pension age must be reconsidered, their professional and life experience should be turned to account again, as well as for the social and economic activity of the community.’’  

The document is based also on the achievement of seven goals, especially the improvement of the Active Ageing Index in Moldova by 25 per cent in 2021, having as benchmark 27.1 per cent in 2015, the increase of the degree of elderly people’s participation in the decision-taking process from 7.8 per cent in 2015 to 15 per cent in 2021. Also, the reduction of the poverty rate among elderly persons from 57 per cent (it refers to the share of households of elderly people with access to the public network of aqueduct) in 2015 to 42 per cent in 2021.  

The plan also sees increase of the productive employment of elderly persons on the labour market: the occupation rate among elderly people (65+years) from ten per cent in 2015 to 13 per cent in 2021 and of the ones with ages from 55 to 64 years from 17.4 per cent to 41.4 per cent in 2021. The level of health is scheduled to be enhanced, more active participation in the social life is planned too.  

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor A. Raileanu)