Greece

Abstract

The simultaneous experience of rapid population ageing, deep recession and a conservative social protection system was behind the dramatic social adjustments during the Greek bailout 2010-2018, affecting diverse categories of citizens whose later life wellbeing was undermined. Older women are especially vulnerable, as they were disproportionately affected by reforms. Women who retire after 2016 face abrupt and dramatic retirement age hikes, while those who managed to retire early have already faced repeated cuts in pensions in their incomes. Their predicament is exacerbated by new obstacles and disincentives which discourage older workers. To make a dire employment situation even worse, unemployment among older workers (especially women) is especially hard to tackle. Long term care services provided by social protection are insufficient to cover demand, implying the need for continued informal care on the part of older women to fill gaps. Consequently, older women have had to shoulder a large part of adjustments, but will also be called to make up for retrenchment in key areas, such as caring for grandchildren and for elderly relatives-whilst being denied meaningful support to help their them respond. As long term developments unfold over the next decade, these gaps will deepen and the social predicament of older Greek women will be more pressing.