Final eSangathan conference in Brussels, Sept.18, 2008, about active ageing workforces and virtual workspaces
Miguel Membrado September 17th, 2008
Register at http://www.esangathan-conference.eu/registration.asp
Description
Europe faces a major
demographic challenge! According to OECD, demographic projections are
uncertain, but on middle-of-the-road assumptions, the ratio of people
over 65 to those between 20 and 64 could double between now and the
middle of the century. And in some countries, such as Italy and Spain,
this ageing will be much stronger. The situation is similar in most
developed countries due to the combined effect of the lowering of the
birth rate and the “boomers” reaching retirement age. The phenomenon
will be reaching the emerging economies within a few years as was
discussed during the eSangathan Mumbai
conference.
The
shift from an industrial society to a knowledge society, as well as the
extension of the individual lifespan in healthy conditions, and the
increasing role of ICT in the work process are a set of factors
enabling people to work longer in good conditions. It will be a
personal choice for some people, and a necessity for others. The real
question remains: how to increase the percentage of aged workers
(55-64) included into the labour market?
This was exactly the purpose of the
eSangathan project!
The
project focussed on two particular segments, of this 55-64 population:
one consisting of employees about to retire in the corporate world, and
the other being people willing to be further involved into the labour
market as entrepreneurs. eSangathan analysed
the situation based on two pilots: one in a major Indian corporation,
Mahindra & Mahindra and one at regional level in the Öresund region
in Sweden and Denmark.
ICT
played a major role in the project and in the life of the pilot
members. Indeed, the consortium made the “a priori” assumption, based
on previous experiences, that Collaborative Working Environments (CWE)
could represent a well adapted solution to improve working conditions
and offer a better work-life balance to the ageing workers. The
consortium members will be happy to share with you the results of these
experimentations during the conference.
eSangathan
was also eager to innovate in the field of tools and methods used to
reach the social goals of the project. We all know that the Nordic
countries are the “best in class” in Europe with regard to the
employment of the “seniors”; so, we knew we would learn from our
Swedish, Danish and Dutch partners. So will you when attending the
conference. You will discover how we shifted from a hierarchical
management approach to a heterarchical one.
The
inclusion of the ageing workforce into the labour market becomes a hot
topic in all the countries where their employment rate is low. Indeed,
15 countries out of 27 do not reach the strategic objective of 50%
employment rate for the 55-64 population segment. This brings Europe at
44,7% of employment rate at the end of 2007. The employment rate varies
from 28,3% (Malta) to 70% (Sweden).
Despite
the recent research led by IRDES saying that 31% (The Netherlands) to
67% (Spain) of the 50-64 workers say they want to retire as soon as
possible, one can assume that the working life of the Europeans will be
longer in the future. This economical and social reality has been a key
concern of the eSangathan team. It results in a set of recommendations and proposals which will be presented in the
eSangathan White Paper.
The White Paper will be presented and made available during the conference!
You want to know more or share opinion: contact us at event@esangathan.eu
or visit us at www.esangathan.eu
Register the conference at http://www.esangathan-conference.eu/registration.asp
