5th European conference on promoting workplace health
The demographic trends are posing new challenges for enterprises and the social security systems in Europe. While the population of the European Union is rapidly ageing, because of low birth rates and increasing life expectancy, the number of older people in employment is comparatively low. Moreover, many employees withdraw from the labour force at a relatively early age. At the same time, Europe's enterprises will need to depend in future more than ever before on qualified, motivated and especially on healthy employees. And if the social security systems on the European continent are to continue to function economically, they will have to rely on employees being able to remain longer in gainful employment. New strategies will be essential to integrate employees in the work process for a longer period of time and to make better use of the potential provided by elderly employees.
The European conference will be held in the context of the Austrian EU presidency. It will be organised jointly by the European Commission (DG Health and Consumer Protection), the Upper Austrian Health Insurance Funds and the ENWHP. The conference in Linz will conclude the 5th network initiative and support the implementation of its main objectives:
* To improve workplace health and the well-being of the ageing workforce * To increase awareness of all stakeholders in recognising the needs of an ageing workforce and to respond to the impacts of an ageing workforce on workplace health and well-being * To identify, analyse, document and disseminate models of good practice for workplace health promotion in the context of an ageing workforce * To develop a toolbox for promoting workplace health and well-being for ageing workers
