St.PETERSBURG, December 18 (Itar-Tass) —— Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has declared at a conference devoted to problems of social activity of the older generation that Russia should do everything possible to lengthen the "social" life expectancy of the Russian people.
Around ten million people older than the industrious age have been employed in the economy now, and more than 300,000 pensioners are ready to work, Medvedev said. In his opinion, “under conditions of the approaching deficit of labor resources it would be more expedient to let pensioners work.” "The older generation are as a rule an experienced cadre contingent who might prove useful to their own country, their own settlements, to themselves and their families; it is well-known that as long as a man works he lives an active life," the prime minister stressed.
"It is a matter of one's own choice, but the state is ready to help,” Medvedev underlined.
We should merely try to lengthen an active professional life expectancy, including jobs as teachers in the system of vocational education at enterprises, Medvedev said. Around 15 percent of citizens of retirement age want to undergo special courses either to be re-trained or upgrade their qualification, Medvedev said.
The prime minister reminded of watching a group of pensioners studying a computer when he visited one of the Houses for Veterans in St.Petersburg, " It is a good thing. We should help provide corresponding computer classes to all the councils of veterans in the city numbering 18. The cost is relatively low, totally worth around one million roubles as my colleagues said, but this will create an opportunity for our deer veterans, our older generations to learn the values of civilization”, Medvedev said. Besides, a computer is a possibility for them to talk to their friends, Medvedev added.
An example set by a person who reached a retirement age, but continues an active life and work should be no lucky exception, Medvedev warned. This is not merely a task of the state, it is the task set to whole society, Medvedev said, adding he hoped that the heads of regional administrations would follow these recommendations.