Dear Sir,

World Federation of Trade Unions - Trade
Unions of International - Pensioners And
Retirees Call For The October 1st, 2017:
International Day of Fight for Pensioners'

Rights .

On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated 1 October the International Day of Older Persons. This was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the UN General Assembly. In 1991, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons. In 2002, the Second World Assembly on Ageing adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing,  to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the development of a society for all ages.

Almost 700 million people are now over the age of 60. By 2050, 2 billion people, over 20 per cent of the world’s population, will be 60 or older. The increase in the number of older people will be the greatest and the most rapid in the developing world, with Asia as the region with the largest number of older persons, and Africa facing the largest proportionate growth.

With this in mind, enhanced attention to the particular needs and challenges faced by many older people is clearly required. Just as important, however, is the essential contribution the majority of older men and women can continue to make to the functioning of society if adequate guarantees are in place. Human rights lie at the core of all efforts in this regard.

In the name of corporate competitiveness, pensioners and retirees throughout the world are made to face the worsening of their lives and the lives of their children. Their pensions are cut, health benefits are reduced and privatized, social structures dissolved and their rights are generally restricted. Pension is not an ex-gratia payment but payment for past services rendered. It is earned by the employee for service rendered to fall back upon after retirement.  In this background, the World Federation of Trade Unions – Trade Union International – Pensioners and Retirees has called to observe 1st October as 'International Day of Fight for Pensioners Rights.

We strive for:

1. Universal Right for Assured and Adequate Pension

2. Public and Free Social Security

3. Public and Free medical and Pharmaceutical assistance

 for everybody without restriction and limitation

4. Public Pension that guarantee our current needs in order

 to have a dignified life

5. Social Support, proper housing, Fresh Water, medical Care, public Free and accessible means of transportation and leisure

S.Mohan