The culture of retirement in Lebanon: Obstacles and opportunities for addressing the transition to public and private sector post-employment life.
Abstract
Retirees in Lebanon currently experience a number of socio-cultural and economic obstacles that limit their ability to experience retirement in a meaningful and productive way. The current paper draws on research and programming in Lebanon that was developed to understand and promote a healthy culture of retirement in Lebanon where the needs of retirees were explored by a joint initiative by the government and civil society. Results of two focus groups and the implementation of community enrichment pilot programs for retirees fed into the development of a framework to highlight the ways in which investments in retirees could be optimally realized at the national and municipal levels in Lebanon. Future plans for research and programming to test this model further were also generated as part of this overall project. These results provide a framework for how retirees may be further engaged in civil society and a roadmap for conceptualizing programs for retirees that need minimal large-scale government action.
Thanks
The authors would like to thank the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs Staff, especially the family Unit Staff, for their invitation and their generous human resources support. Without them, this work could not see the light. Special thanks to Ms. Dalale Doueihi, senior social worker, who started and developed the culture of retirement within the ministry and across Lebanon and continues to work diligently pushing frontiers and barriers related to this topic.
References
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- BBC (2019, 21.10.2019). Lebanon Protests: Huge Crowds on Streets as Government Acts. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50118300
- CAS (The Central Administration of Statistics) (2019). Lebanese Republic: The Presidency of the Council of Ministers, The Central Administration of Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.cas.gov.lb/
- Hamade, A. S. H., Ghobeira, M. G., & Yassin, N. (2015). Assessing the Lebanese Elderly Welfare Pension Reform: Time for a New Policy: American University of Beirut
- ILO (International Labor Organization) (2013, 20.05.2013). Lebanon’s Long Awaited Pension Reform Within Reach. Retrieved from http://www. oit.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/features/ WCMS_207664/lang--en/index.htm
- Jarmuzek, M., & Nakhle, N. (2016). Sustainability and Equity Challenges; Some Arithmetic on Lebanon’s Pension System: International Monetary Fund.
- MENA Group (World Bank Middle East and North Africa Social and Economic Development Group) (2009). The Status and Progress of Women in the Middle East & North Africa. Washington, DC: World Bank Middle East and North Africa Social and Economic Development Group.
- Munyambonera, E., Katunze, M., Munu, M. L., & Sserunjogi, B. (2018). Expanding the Pension Sector in Uganda (Report No: 677-2018-5024).
- Rached, M. (2012). Social Security in Pensions in Lebanon: A Non-Contributory Proposal. Beirut, Lebanon: Lebanese Economic Association.
- ReliefWeb (2017, 31 Dec 2017). Lebanon Humanitarian Fund - Annual Report 2017. Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/lebanon-humanitarian-fund-annual-report-2017
- Saadeh, L., & Mikhael, M. (2016). Lebanon’s Pension System Beirut, Lebanon: Blominvest Bank.
- Saxena, P. C. (2008). Ageing and age-structural transition in the Arab countries: Regional variations, socioeconomic consequences and social security. Genus, 37-74.
- Sayed, H., & Robalino, D. (2009). Lebanon: Moving Forward With Pension Reform in Lebanon. In H. Larbi (Ed.), The Financial Crisis: Impact on the Middle East (No: 57793) (pp. 12-16). Washington, DC: The World Bank Middle East Department.
- Sibai, A. M. (2000). The elderly in Lebanon In The status of disadvantaged population groups in Lebanon– Population and Housing Survey. Beirut: Ministry of Social Affairs and UNDP (pp. 48-124). Beirut, Lebanon.
- Sibai, A. M., Sen, K., Baydoun, M., & Saxena, P. (2004). Population ageing in Lebanon: current status, future prospects and implications for policy. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 82, 219-225.
- Sibai, A. M., Yount, K., & Fletcher, A. (2007). Marital status and living arrangements as predictors of mortality among middle-aged and older men and women during wartime in Beirut: Gains and liabilities. Social Science and Medicine, 64(1), 64-76.
- SSA (Social Security Administration) (2010). Social security programs throughout the world: Asia and the Pacific, 2010. Retrieved from https://www.ssa.gov/ policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/2010-2011/asia/lebanon.html
- SSA (Social Security Administration) (2017). Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Africa, 2017 (Publication No. 13-11803). Washington, DC Social Security Administration Office of Retirement and Disability Policy Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics.
- Star, T. D. (2017, 23.07.2017). Protesters Decry Tax Increases in Downtown Beirut. Retrieved from http:// www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2017/ Jul-23/413680-protesters-decry-tax-increases-in-downtown-beirut.ashx
- Tohme, R. A., Yount, K. M., Yassine, S., Shideed, O., & Sibai, A. M. (2011). Socioeconomic resources and living arrangements of older adults in Lebanon: who chooses to live alone? Ageing & Society, 31(1), 1-17.
Abstract
References
- Abdulrahim, S., Ajrouch, K. J., & Antonucci, T. C. (2014). Aging in Lebanon: Challenges and opportunities. The Gerontologist, 55(4), 511-518.
- BBC (2019, 21.10.2019). Lebanon Protests: Huge Crowds on Streets as Government Acts. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50118300
- CAS (The Central Administration of Statistics) (2019). Lebanese Republic: The Presidency of the Council of Ministers, The Central Administration of Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.cas.gov.lb/
- Hamade, A. S. H., Ghobeira, M. G., & Yassin, N. (2015). Assessing the Lebanese Elderly Welfare Pension Reform: Time for a New Policy: American University of Beirut
- ILO (International Labor Organization) (2013, 20.05.2013). Lebanon’s Long Awaited Pension Reform Within Reach. Retrieved from http://www. oit.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/features/ WCMS_207664/lang--en/index.htm
- Jarmuzek, M., & Nakhle, N. (2016). Sustainability and Equity Challenges; Some Arithmetic on Lebanon’s Pension System: International Monetary Fund.
- MENA Group (World Bank Middle East and North Africa Social and Economic Development Group) (2009). The Status and Progress of Women in the Middle East & North Africa. Washington, DC: World Bank Middle East and North Africa Social and Economic Development Group.
- Munyambonera, E., Katunze, M., Munu, M. L., & Sserunjogi, B. (2018). Expanding the Pension Sector in Uganda (Report No: 677-2018-5024).
- Rached, M. (2012). Social Security in Pensions in Lebanon: A Non-Contributory Proposal. Beirut, Lebanon: Lebanese Economic Association.
- ReliefWeb (2017, 31 Dec 2017). Lebanon Humanitarian Fund - Annual Report 2017. Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/lebanon-humanitarian-fund-annual-report-2017
- Saadeh, L., & Mikhael, M. (2016). Lebanon’s Pension System Beirut, Lebanon: Blominvest Bank.
- Saxena, P. C. (2008). Ageing and age-structural transition in the Arab countries: Regional variations, socioeconomic consequences and social security. Genus, 37-74.
- Sayed, H., & Robalino, D. (2009). Lebanon: Moving Forward With Pension Reform in Lebanon. In H. Larbi (Ed.), The Financial Crisis: Impact on the Middle East (No: 57793) (pp. 12-16). Washington, DC: The World Bank Middle East Department.
- Sibai, A. M. (2000). The elderly in Lebanon In The status of disadvantaged population groups in Lebanon– Population and Housing Survey. Beirut: Ministry of Social Affairs and UNDP (pp. 48-124). Beirut, Lebanon.
- Sibai, A. M., Sen, K., Baydoun, M., & Saxena, P. (2004). Population ageing in Lebanon: current status, future prospects and implications for policy. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 82, 219-225.
- Sibai, A. M., Yount, K., & Fletcher, A. (2007). Marital status and living arrangements as predictors of mortality among middle-aged and older men and women during wartime in Beirut: Gains and liabilities. Social Science and Medicine, 64(1), 64-76.
- SSA (Social Security Administration) (2010). Social security programs throughout the world: Asia and the Pacific, 2010. Retrieved from https://www.ssa.gov/ policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/2010-2011/asia/lebanon.html
- SSA (Social Security Administration) (2017). Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Africa, 2017 (Publication No. 13-11803). Washington, DC Social Security Administration Office of Retirement and Disability Policy Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics.
- Star, T. D. (2017, 23.07.2017). Protesters Decry Tax Increases in Downtown Beirut. Retrieved from http:// www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2017/ Jul-23/413680-protesters-decry-tax-increases-in-downtown-beirut.ashx
- Tohme, R. A., Yount, K. M., Yassine, S., Shideed, O., & Sibai, A. M. (2011). Socioeconomic resources and living arrangements of older adults in Lebanon: who chooses to live alone? Ageing & Society, 31(1), 1-17.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal Section | Articles |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | December 31, 2019 |
| Acceptance Date | December 29, 2019 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2019 Volume: 2 Issue: 3 |
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The National and Applied Gerontology Association (NASAG) is a leading non-profit organization in Türkiye that promotes healthy and productive aging via evidence-based research. The utilization of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research in gerontology is crucial in integrating research, practice, and policy, given the need for evidence-based programming to improve the quality of life in old age. As an advocate for social action for older people, the NASAG is particularly concerned that public policies are strongly and genuinely focused on supporting and protecting the most vulnerable, marginalized, or disadvantaged older people.
The NASAG has been a member of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) since 2007.