LEBANON: Experts Address Plight of the Elderly

New retirement law may not do enough Current system to cover only a fraction of those in need BEIRUT, Lebanon (The Daily Star), August 16, 2004: Although the Lebanese government passed a new retirement law earlier this month, its main concern was not to create a system capable of answering the needs of the country's elderly, according to one hospital head, who called the measure inadequate. Indeed, some politicians fear the new law will undermine the existing social security system, while some say it may never be passed by Parliament. Some social activists say that even if it is implemented the measure would only cover employees who benefit from the current security system, leaving the majority of the unemployed, uncovered workers and the self-employed out in the cold. "The purpose of a retirement system should be to target the elderly population in the country as a special group, in order to improve the quality life of senior citizens," said Azzam Houri, the head of Beirut's Dar al-Ajaza al-Islamiya Hospital. "The retirement system would cover less than 16 percent of the elderly, or 38,947 senior citizens, offering them just 60 percent of their original wages, an amount that might not cover the minimum requirements to live in dignity." Based on an estimated official count conducted in July 2001, there are 243,423 people aged 65 and over, with 68,158 of them living under the poverty line. The country's poor economy also makes it harder for those supporting seniors at home, in private institutions or nongovernmental facilities to provide them with basic needs. A 1997 survey by the Social Affairs Ministry said the number of elderly will roughly double within the next two decades, rising to 13 percent of the country's population from the current 6.7 percent. This is due to the fact that life expectancy at birth was 66 years in 1970 but climbed to 71 as of in 1997. Combined with declining fertility and mortality rates, this means that the country's third-largest age group is undergoing a widening of its role in society. According to Houri, "the drafted retirement law cannot deal with the reality of Lebanon's aging population, nor can it respond to a potential economic and social backlash." In 2002, the various concerned ministries theoretically complied with an international strategy and recommendations that were set by the World Assembly on Aging and aimed at responding to the challenges and needs of the elderly in the 21st century. However, "the ministries conducted surveys, studies and research that cost millions of dollars without actually contributing in the field in facing the challenge," said Houri, in reference to the government's establishment of a Permanent National Commission on the Elderly (PNCE) in 2002. He acknowledged that the various ministries do provide some assistance, but added: "Facing the aging problem needs a plan that tackles the problem from all aspects, based on a comprehensive strategy." Such a strategy, he continued, should work to safeguard the dignity and safety of the elderly, and reinforce a society for all ages where individuals grow older while still remaining active and productive members of society, he added. The three sectors working in the field coordinate their steps through the PNCE. Nine delegates from different ministries and public administrative bodies represent the public sector, three delegates represent the NGOs, and three expert academics represent the private sector, according to the World Assembly plan. The task of the PNCE is to conduct several surveys before deciding on practical plans. "We need to establish a sound database on the status of the elderly people in Lebanon and to obtain a preliminary profile on the major health, social and economic problems they face," said Hussein Majed, the head of the delegation to the World Assembly, at the time. However, in Lebanon, this task still remains unfinished: The commission still does not know where the elderly live, what their medico-social status is or which institutions are dealing with them. "Meanwhile, most of the retired or elderly citizens find they are suddenly homebound and cannot generally afford the luxury of joining private institutions for leisure time," Houri said. "This growing portion of the Lebanese society must be at the highest priority on the country's agenda." By Adnan El-Ghoul Daily Star staff