Our extended working lives will be examined at a conference at NUI Galway this week and in particular the implications for those in physically demanding work or precarious employment.
The conference entitled ‘Gender and health impacts of policies extending working life’ will be hosted by the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology in NUI Galway on Thursday and Friday this week.
Capacity
The conference is based on the work of COST – European Cooperation in Science and Technology which provides networking opportunities for researchers and innovators in order to strengthen Europe’s capacity to address scientific, technological and societal challenges.
Dr Áine Ní Léime from the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology at NUI Galway and Chair of COST Action, said: “This conference showcases the work of the COST Action network over four years and offers an opportunity to open up a debate on the complex issue of extended working life in Ireland.
Traditional
“While working past traditional state pension age may be beneficial for many people in rewarding sedentary jobs, it may be more problematic for those in physically demanding work or those in precarious employment.”
This conference will feature over 50 presentations on the gender and health implications of policies designed to extend working life. These policies have been introduced across Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries as a response to population ageing and anticipated increased pension costs.
Contributions
They include increasing state pension age and requiring increased contributions to qualify for state pensions, which have important implications for different groups of workers.
MEP Mairead McGuinness will give an opening address by video. Keynote speakers include Dame Professor Carol Black, Newnham College Cambridge, expert adviser on health and work to the NHS, Professor Chris Phillipson, University of Manchester, Professor Fiona Alpass, Massey University, New Zealand and Professor Libby Brooke, University of Melbourne.
Advancements
Mairead McGuinness says “With better diets and medical advancements, we are living longer and healthier lives.
“We are also working longer, a development which some welcome and others do not. This conference will look at the gender and health impacts of policies extending working life, an important and timely topic.
Significant changes
“We have seen significant changes in women’s involvement in the workforce. In Ireland before 1973, women who worked in the civil service were obliged to retire once married – things are very different today with women actively participating in the workforce.