Invecchiamento attivo e dialogo sociale nella promozione della partecipazione dei lavoratori anziani al mercato del lavoro

Social dialogue is a key factor for the implementation of successful initiatives in the field of active ageing promotion. The role of labour unions and pensioners associations is fundamental in social bargaining in the field of social welfare. Nevertheless, the paper focuses on the role of social dialogue in promoting the conditions for the development of labour market and company measures addressed to support, retain and reintegrate the older workers in employment. It is not sufficient just reforming the pension systems. These goals, necessary to contrast the economic and social unsustainability due to the demographic transition, need broader and more complex strategies. There are three different levels of intervention: the European level, for the development of guidelines to the implementation of strategies and policies; the national level of development of national plans, according to the features of each country; the company level where age management practices are implemented. By referring to the supranational initiatives, to the national plans for the promotion of active ageing (here understood as older workers’ participation in the labour market) and to age management practices at company level, it is possible – through documental analysis and good practices analysis – to point out the role played by social partners in the definition of strategies and for their successful implementation.