A new definition of full employment

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Rating: 4.3/5 with 3 votes

Published Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 10:00
by carl0s Join PES activists (984 views and 3 comments)

In the Labour Party we have always thought of full employment as a desirable goal. This reflects the influence of those such as Keynes and Galbraith on our thinking (despite Keynes being a Liberal). It also reflects the localized depressions of the 1930s, 1980s and 1990s where classical and neo-classical economics failed so many people. Simple fact: markets are prone to failure. We should not let any prior commitments prevent us from offering clear, humane alternatives should this failure happen again. Around Europe, most people will look to socialist parties to help them.

With the challenges of an ageing population, we need to redefine what employment actually is. With more healthy people over the age of '65, and increasing numbers of home carers, we have demands that need to meet in different ways. It's wrong to see the growing number of old people as a problem - it's actually a huge opportunity. The same of course applies to membership of PES parties - where members are sometimes regarded as a nuisance rather than a positive resource!

This is because that if the right community facilities exist, and the infrastructure is available, pensioners should have the opportunity to develop their skills in a variety of social enterprises, some of which could prove lucrative. Examples of this would be in handicrafts, community kitchens (capable of providing at least some of the required food for schools and nurseries) and involvement in a variety of academic and artistic projects.

The first city or country to get this right, will find their economic and cultural life heading in an upward direction... and other European countries will follow. I'm interested in any existing examples ... ?

Tags: elderly, employment, welfare

Comments

1. Redefining employment by Asynjen Join PES activists on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 14:35

Hi Carl0s, your post made me think about my own parents - I have a feeling that when they once retire they are not prepared to have the same pensioner life as, say, my grand parents have. I think their generation, in many ways, would feel more comfortable with the model that you propose. You're right that we need to think about alternative solutions when considering employment in the future.

I'm not saying that people with physically demanding or stressful jobs should be prevented from retirement, but there could be opportunities for those who would like to continue working. What do others think? Is employment for pensioners a slippery slope that could pave the way for lower pensions? Or is it a positive development for those who would like to stay employed?

2. I agree... by Julian from Schaerbeek on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 14:53

Good point Carlos! Many pensioners in their late 60s and 70s are very fit, active and would have plenty to offer the community. The challenge is to find attractive and rewarding tasks that do not depriove others of paid employment but expand community services. I wonder if anyone has good examples of this in practice? 

I suppose a UK example is the 'lolly pop' ladies who supervise school children crossing the road - they used to be volunteers didnt they? Do they still exist?  

I wonder how the EU can contribute to this - ie what we should say about it in the PES manifesto? 

3. A New Dinifition of Employment by jorn Join PES activists on Friday, April 11, 2008 at 23:31

We must as a community be aware of having a "new generation" of elderly citizen which we, of course, always have had, andmaybe some generation ago these elderly people could spend their retirement at an old people´s home, and if such a homes did not exist the elderly citizen must be taken care of their parents, if any. Now the situation is upside down, and we must give an applause to the socialist parties in Europe. In modern time people have a higher duration of life, and are able to stay in their own home for some degree.

 In former time after having left the labour market they have finished work from one day to an other. Due to a higher and better life time, some people can stay some years more at labour market for some years, when their age is about 60 to 70 years old with a lower working hours due to their health and age, and in some countries people are called "The grey Gold". In these years  Denmark has such a high level of employment that all kind of trades are missing workers and it is necessary to import people from abroad for all trades, the elderly people are not a slippery slope, and, as I know, they are not working in a way, which means that society can pay them a lower pensions. and they cannot lose their However these people must pay tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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