Against the backdrop of the ongoing pension reform in Ukraine, which annually raises requirements for insurance seniority, the issue of preserving the labor potential of the population has become acute. Experts warn that one of the main threats today is premature aging and disability among people of working age.
Economic expediency versus physical condition
Bogdan Bozhuk, General Director of the State Institution "Y.I. Kundiev Institute of Occupational Medicine of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine", noted in an interview with RBC-Ukraine that from an economic point of view, raising the retirement age appears to be a justified step. However, according to the specialist, behind the dry figures often lies the real state of citizens' health.
Bozhuk emphasizes that against the background of the general deterioration of the nation's condition, including psychological aspects, Ukrainians aged 60–65 often retain the ability for full-fledged labor activity. Nevertheless, forced extension of the working period may negatively affect the quality of their lives.
Individual approach to assessing employability
The key problem, according to the expert, is that health and employability in old age are purely individual variables. "The condition of a scientist and a miner is difficult to compare," explains Bozhuk.
A significant difference is also observed in the presence of chronic diseases: in some citizens, they are in remission, allowing them to remain active, while in others, they proceed with frequent exacerbations, making work impossible.
Age as a conditional benchmark
Based on this, the specialist believes it is erroneous to rely solely on age limits when planning retirement. In reality, employability may decrease significantly before reaching the age of 65, while other people remain productive even after 75.
To prevent the loss of labor potential, Bogdan Bozhuk insists on the need to implement global health support and rehabilitation programs. Only a comprehensive approach will allow preserving national health and ensuring the sustainability of the labor market in the long term.