■ A comparison of European practices in the management of ageing workers
Period: June 2009 - 2011

Project leader: INRS
Project partners: BAuA, BGAG - DGUV, CIOP-PIB, FIOH, NRCWE, Prevent, STAMI, VÚBP

The aim of the project is to compare policies/social practices in a selected number of European countries, in a common sector, with regard to the management of ageing workers.

The European population is ageing, due to various and simultaneous events: increase of life expectation (thanks to medical innovations and better caring, general improvement in quality of life, elevation of living standards…) and decrease of birth rate. As a result, the pension plans get imbalanced, and economic problems are arising. It becomes compulsory to extend working life. Paradoxically, ageing workers are often excluded from working life earlier than foreseen, even before the age of retirement, due to health problems (related to work intensification, new organisational modes, painfulness at work…) or strategic decisions made when time comes to reduce wage bills. It is therefore necessary to study the various policies/social practices used in European countries (in our case 7), compare their results in terms of health, well-being.

More information: Dr. Isabelle Titon, INRS, e-mail

More research projects: