Text tabled : A7-0291/2011

  Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL), in writing. – (PT) This report on the situation of women approaching retirement age addresses an extremely important issue, which has proved to be crucial with regard to the social exclusion of women. There is real discrimination against older women in Europe, which has the highest percentage of older women in the world. In 2008, the risk of poverty amongst older women hit almost 22%, whilst for older men it was 16%.

In general terms, women are victims of low wages, of unemployment, and of part-time and precarious work, which is reflected in very low pensions, putting them in a position of great social fragility and at risk of poverty.

Older working women face at least double discrimination in the labour market on the basis of gender and age, which accentuates their greater vulnerability caused by women-specific work trajectories.

The current economic crisis is having significant repercussions for older women, who are already suffering discrimination as regards matters of health or disability, and on their access to basic services, especially long-term care services, due to budget cuts.