Compulsory activation measures for older unemployed criticised

From the beginning of 1999, unemployed people in Denmark aged over 50 must accept labour market "activation" measures (employment or training), or lose their benefits. However, some local representatives of the social partners believe that the new rules have no effect on older unemployed people, or even a negative effect. They believe that the view of politicians and the LO trade union confederation that forced activation finds employment for the older unemployed is wrong, with stress and humiliation a more likely outcome.

From 1 January 1999, unemployed people aged over 50 years no longer have a special right to refuse to participate in labour market "activation" measures. Under the recent Law on active social policy (Loven om aktiv social politik), in order to receive social security benefits, they must now either accept offers of employment from the private or municipal sectors, or undergo further training. Otherwise, they lose their entitlement to benefits. However, according to local-level representatives of the social partners, the new legislation has no effect on older unemployed people, or even a negative effect.

The problem, it is claimed, is that older unemployed people are not in demand for employment, even when they have received further training. The chair of the County-Level Labour Market Council of Vestsjælland,Maja Hansen, states that there is essentially not the demand for older unemployed people which some politicians have claimed. Furthermore, the training courses attended by these unemployed people are criticised for not being aimed at this target group and for often being thrown together haphazardly. At present, too many people allegedly end up in general courses in computers, philosophy, applying for jobs and so on. While most people can probably gain something from such courses, they do not lead to a job. Participation thus becomes pointless to the individual, says Ms Hansen, and the "activation" measures brings an experience of defeat.

A number of other local representatives on County-Level Labour Market Councils have criticised politicians and the Danish Federation of Trade Unions (Landsorganisationen i Danmark, LO) for their belief that forced activation can create employment for older people. The main problem, it is claimed, is that employers do not want to employ people who are getting close to the age of early retirement. Consequently, according to some of the local representatives, if older people do not feel motivated to undergo activation, they should not be forced to do so. They believe, however, that older people should keep the right to receive activation and that job placement services should maintain contact with them continuously to inform them of possibilities on the labour market.