social cohesion.

## Ministers' role toward sustainable economic growth and employment

- As Labour and Employment Ministers we have a specific responsibility to ensure the development and growth of a skilled and resilient workforce in our countries that is responsive to the needs of the global economy. We also recognise the importance of facilitating an inclusive labour market, combining security and flexibility, that promotes employment opportunities for workers and is responsive to their individual needs and circumstances.

## Addressing these challenges

- We should address these challenges by promoting a society where individuals have flexibility and choice in the way they balance their work with their lives, taking into account increasing longevity.

4. Social partners, government and labour institutions have important roles to play. Corporate Social Responsibility can also contribute.

## Enabling Well-Balanced Lives in Harmony with Increased Longevity

5. Increased life expectancy, rising beyond age 80 in some countries is having a major impact on labour markets and workers’ lives. In order to enable people to enjoy fulfilling lives and achieve their full human potential, employment and labour market policies should promote:

- Better work-life balance

- Safe and healthy working lives and secure post-working lives

- Lifelong learning and career development

These measures should take account of the needs of individuals, employers and society as a whole and reflect the differing attitudes and practices with regard to retirement in each country.

6. We agreed that a range of employment and labour market policies and programmes are needed to achieve a good lifelong balance between work and private commitments. These include measures to:

## Better work-life balance

- promote appropriate diversity in forms of employment and in working arrangements in our respective countries appropriate to workers at each stage of life, through a package approach combining flexibility and adequate labour market security, as agreed in Dresden.

- help facilitate job mobility and transitions throughout the lifecycle.

- encourage family friendly policies and promote opportunities for voluntary flexible work arrangements, such as part-time work, flexible working hours, telecommuting as well as other alternative work arrangements, which may help to achieve a better work-life balance for both male and female workers at different stages of their careers.

## Safe and healthy working lives and secure post-working lives

- improve compliance with occupational safety and health laws and regulations, and improve awareness and knowledge of job-related stress and other occupational health and safety issues. This is also beneficial for healthy post-working life.

## Lifelong learning and career development

- in the context of a lifecycle approach, facilitate effective life-long employability and adaptability to change, including through career counselling opportunities, career development, skills upgrading and lifelong learning.

In developing the above measures particular attention should be paid to reducing barriers, especially gender-related, and providing equal opportunities for all workers.

The Contribution of Labour Market and Employment Policies to Addressing the Needs of