The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry presents a project for longer retention of older workers in the labor market.

The spring meeting of the Sectoral Unions, part of the system of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was held on June 20 in Blagoevgrad. During the event, the BCCI team presented the main goals, tasks, and activities implemented under the IntegrAGE project, as well as the results achieved so far.

The IntegrAGE project started at the end of 2023 and has a duration of 30 months. It is implemented in partnership between 15 organizations from 10 countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic). The studies conducted under the project show that in connection with the demographic changes in the EU, the issue of the longer retention of older workers in the labor market is of key importance for the economic progress of the countries.

Older workers possess valuable practical experience that they can pass on to their younger colleagues, while at the same time they can take advantage of the digital knowledge of the younger ones. Therefore, the main activities of the project are related to the implementation of a holistic approach in human resource management, with a focus on 55+, including knowledge transfer, opportunities for remote work, flexible working hours, corporate programs for "healthy work", tax incentives for employers accepting 55+ workers, and others.

During the meeting, the participants were introduced to the training materials available on the IntegrAGE project platform, section "TOOLBOX". The materials are grouped into 4 sections: Self-assessment tools; Learning and development tools; Interaction and communication tools; Work-life balance tools. The platform is in the process of continuous enrichment with information, training programs, interactive quizzes, videos, and "good practices" intended for business organizations, companies, vocational training centers, and human resource management specialists.

The spring meeting of the Sectoral Unions was attended by 25 representatives from sectors such as food industry, textile and clothing, renewable energy sources, services, and others.