During their working life, most people dream of the day when they would be able to retire so that they would have all the time in the world to indulge in their pastimes.

Some do exactly that but many others change their mind in no time after reaching retirement age and decide to either go back to work, if they are accepted by their employer, or else choose to do some part-time work in order to keep active.

Keeping active, either by doing the work they have been trained to do or in another job or voluntary role, make such individuals happier and healthier. However, to a growing number of people remaining in their job, or taking some other remunerative work, has become necessary because the State pension is simply not enough for them to make ends meet.

Not all employers allow workers to remain in their job after reaching retirement age. Or they may be allowed to keep their job under conditions that are different, or inferior, to what they had before.

At a recent conference when the issue of active ageing was discussed, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca threw the spotlight on problems that older employees face in this regard and urged trade unions not to neglect such people. She remarked that the “working poor” were the most prone as they required additional income apart from their pension to be able to make a living.

The situation in Malta with regard to the employment of people who are over the normal retirement age is far from rosy. With an active ageing index that ranks the island in 26th place out of the 28 members of the European Union. Particularly distressing is that the number of over 65s who are at risk of poverty and social exclusion has risen to 34 per cent, when the EU average is 26.5 per cent. This is a matter that calls for urgent attention because, like other countries, the number of people reaching retirement age is rising all the time.

Taking an EU view, it is estimated that, by 2060, the number of those aged over 65 will soar to 29.5 per cent and the number of over 80s will nearly triple to 12 per cent.

At the same time, the working age population in the EU is expected to decline by 14.2 per cent.

One recommendation that was made is for governments “to put in place systems that provide adequate incomes in old age to preserve the financial autonomy of older people and enable them to live in dignity”.

However, this is easier said than done, more so in countries that are finding it increasingly difficult to lower their deficit.

In Malta, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has been talking about the pensioners’ plight, too, but there is as yet no indication of what the government has in mind to help ease their financial burden.

Besides ensuring that the State pension is adequate for pensioners to live in dignity, the government should perhaps follow a recommendation made by the EU for a review of the tax and benefit systems to ensure that work pays for older workers.

Older workers would be encouraged to take up work if their earnings are not subject to tax. More often than not, the tendency is for older people to opt for work that can be done on a part-time basis to supplement their pension income.

Pledges for more effective help to older people are fine but they ultimately serve no useful purpose if they do not translate into action.