ILC GLOBAL ALLIANCE:
Publication

An ILC Global Alliance Circular on retirement age reform.

This paper presents country-specific insights from the different members of the ILC Global Alliance on the retirement age reform process that has been included in the political agenda by governments around the world.

ILC Global Alliance recently published a book “Global Aging Report: Threats to Longevity” with a view to informing the status of population aging in the world and also calling for action to cope with various issues threatening longevity.

This book was written by the members of ILC Global Alliance, focused on the outline of population aging, policy issues and proposals or measures to solve them in respective countries. Common and individual challenges of aging can be figured out through making a comparison among the countries.

In the report of ILC-Japan, following the overview of the current situation of aging in Japan, covered are the issues of medical care, long-term care, pension, employment and retirement, the status of older women, and the systems to support older people including the Elderly Abuse Prevention Law. The need for changing to the community-based policy is also indicated. It also points out the three points: 1) ‘Can we maintain economic growth in the declining labor population?’ 2) ‘Can we sustain social security under the condition that the ratio of people aged 75 or older exceeds 20%?’ 3) ‘Will it be possible for Japan to attain balanced demographic composition?’ Discussion issues to solve them are additionally proposed.

At the opening of the book, Dr. Robert N. Butler, President of ILC-USA and a world authority of Aging issues, presents “A Call to Action” based on the overview of each country’s report.

By reviewing data concerning international comparison of average life expectancy, etc., he refers to global warming and critical condition of food supply in the world, while analyzing diseases characteristic in developed and developing country each, which hinder longevity. He also gives a warning against problems of threats to longevity and lack of recognition.

Dr. Butler launches into his theory positively on the themes like “Health Creates Wealth,” “Financing Longevity,” “Human Rights,” “Disparity,” etc. Finally he presents 20 specific recommendations including “What Can We Do? An Agenda for Action” including “a Declaration and a Convention for the human rights of older persons,” “educational institutions to establish well-trained health care workforces.”