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A new target - “The role of the workplace in preserving health”
Increasing the activity of the 55 to 64 year old age group in the labour market is a prioritised objective in the EU’s employment policy. The Lisbon strategy has set the target of 50% employment of this age group to be reached by 2010. Many countries are near or have exceeded this goal, but Hungary is rather backward in this regard with an employment rate of about 35%. One of the limiting factors is the status of health. Hungarians run a high risk of leaving the labour market at an early stage in their career. The representative survey conducted by GKI amongst employees aged above 45 highlights that one-tenth of the respondents were unable to work due to poor health. 18% of people aged 45 to 50 and 42% of those aged 51 to 55 claimed that their poor health status is a serious problem. The rate is lower (24-26%) above the age of 56, however this appears to be due to them no longer remaining in the world of work. About five years have passed since this research was conducted, but it would appear that these figures have changed very little.
The HBLF has set up a new target group to focus on the role of the workplace in maintaining health in its workforce. The program of the target group partly serves the acquisition and propagation of good practice and, partly, deals with the factors which make it difficult to shape health policy at work.
Practically all workplaces provide some measure of services and benefits to maintain the health of their employees. However, these do not safeguard workers' health at the required efficiency level despite their good intentions and a significant financial input, though research shows that it is these very benefits which employees appreciate most. It is not the main object of the programme to give a list of these benefits and services. The object is to show how these tools and methods can to be used effectively. The target group would like to see if employers, compared to the practice of earlier years, see an opportunity of taking a more effective role in safeguarding their employees’ health. If the answer is yes then what is to be done, who are the partners whose increased role is indispensable and what steps are necessary to ensure that this role leads to success. These efforts do not go without precedence. For example, the National Institute for Health Development (OEFI), in cooperation with the Association for Healthier Workplaces, has defined the criteria for health-friendly workplaces. The health and labour ministries founded the award „Health-Friendly Workplace” several years ago and have made the award on several occasions. OEFI and the Association have also organised the „Közösen-könnyebben” (It’s easier together) contest on several occasions, in which employers took part. The common thinking required to create healthier employees is promoted by health funds, health service providers, recreational institutions, civil organisations, experts and many other entities.
Éva Hegyesi Orsós
Healthcare in the workplace Target Group Leader
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