[ALBSA-Info] Meidani's Address at the UN Madrid Conference on Aging

[Agron Alibali]

REXHEP MEIDANI, President of Albania: The United States Supreme Court recently considered a case filed by a group of workers alleging discrimination on the basis of age. That case highlights, among other things, that such cases are becoming more prevalent. It also highlights the differences between discrimination based on age and other forms of discrimination, such as race or sex. More problematic was that new developments, inspired by the rapid pace of growth in science and technology, as well as the information revolution, had exacerbated age discrimination in the workplace. 

There now appears to be a direct or indirect attempt to develop the idea that older workers must be moved out to make space for the young. Unfortunately, without evaluating the relationship between generations, and balancing the notion of knowledge and experience, new problems were bound to arise. 

The concerns of industrialized countries, particularly regarding the ways immigration policies affected elderly workers, are becoming more pronounced. Moving away from the notion of the simple demand for manpower, it appears that immigration, particularly that of qualified workers, will continue to grow. That will most certainly continue if differences in economic development of regions around the world continue to widen. That will, in turn, spark more discrimination against the elderly. 

The question is whether using the notion of economic growth and technological advancement as an excuse to discriminate against the elderly - through forced or early retirement - is contrary to efforts to promote overall growth and sustainability. For many countries, serious difficulties are also emerging as they try to cover or enhance their pension schemes. The phenomena of ageing is also affecting various State structures, as well as many aspects of the business community. 

The Second World Assembly provides the proper forum to deal with such issues and to make sure national structures are aware of tendencies to ignore discrimination against the elderly, particularly in the work place. Forced or early retirement often cause businesses or institutions to lose the most knowledgeable and experienced workers in the field. At the same time, small signs of change are showing and many businesses as reacting to the problem by balancing manpower needs with efforts to promote teamwork, education or even reducing work hours. 



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