PM Ciolacu: Gov't supports and promotes concept of active ageing
The Government supports and promotes the concept of active ageing, so that Romania can be a country where "people live a long, healthy, meaningful, satisfying and fulfilling life, together with the communities they belong to," Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu told participants at the National Congress on Active Ageing on Wednesday.
According to the message presented at the event by Victoria Stoiciu, state advisor with the Prime Minister's Chancellery, people over 65 years old currently represent 20% of the country's total population, and active ageing can represent a chance to build "a fairer and more inclusive society," where "no one feels alone or left out."
"Romania is a country that, unfortunately, is getting older. At present, people aged 65 and over represent 3.7% of the population, which is equivalent to almost 20% of the total population. According to forecasts, by 2050 this percentage is expected to reach almost 30%, or 27.7% to be precise. This represents a challenge, but at the same time I believe it also represents an opportunity. The challenge is linked to the fact that the ageing of the population puts a lot of pressure on the pension system, on the social security system, on the health system, and the decrease of the active labour force risks negatively impacting the economy," the Prime Minister highlighted in his message.
He mentioned that the Government has adopted the strategy on long-term care services and active ageing, the employment strategy which also aims to increase the labour market participation of older people, and the strategy for people with disabilities.
Last week, the government adopted a legislative package for a wide-ranging reform of social assistance and social services, following the abuses discovered in some care centres for the elderly and vulnerable, the Prime Minister added, pointing out that the aim is to prevent such situations from happening again, as well as to provide quality social services.
Ciolacu said that, following the measures taken, the employment rate on the labour market of people aged between 55 and 65 has increased.
Marcel Ciolacu pointed out that "the elderly are not and must not be perceived as a burden," but represent "a treasure" that must be exploited.
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