Ulaanbaatar, January 9, 2025 /MONTSAME/. The Seniors National Forum took place at the State Palace on January 8, 2024, under the auspices of the Chairman of the State Great Khural.

Around 900 senior citizens from 21 aimags and nine districts of the Capital City participated in the National Forum, which was organized by the State Great Khural, the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Protection, and the Mongolian Senior Citizens' Association.

Opening the Forum, Chairman of the State Great Khural Amarbayasgalan Dashzegve emphasized that to comprehensively address the social problems of the elderly considering the current situation and future trends, it is necessary to pay attention to their health, pensions, employment, active life, social participation, and protection of rights. The Speaker called for the relevant ministries, organizations, and officials at all levels to strictly fulfill their legal obligations.

“Within the framework of the policy “From Welfare to the Workforce”, a legal framework has been created to support the employment of the elderly, and the amendments to the Elder Law aimed at supporting employment. Now, all parties must make efforts to implement the law. The Government and private sector organizations all have legal obligations.” Speaker Amarbayasgalan also requested seniors’ associations to provide the legislative and executive branches of the Government with information on the implementation of laws and regulations and constantly monitor it.

At the Forum, Minister of Family and Labor Protection Enkh-Amgalan Luvsantseren presented the amendments to the Elder Law that came into effect on January 1, 2025, and state policy on seniors, highlighting the Government’s plan to reform social insurance. “We are working to create a legal framework for private supplementary pensions as part of the social insurance reform. With this legal framework in place, positive changes will occur, including the transition from a pension distribution system to a semi-accumulation system and the opportunity for senior citizens to receive pensions from multiple sources. The pensions received by the elderly should be sufficient for their needs. From January 1, 2025, two percent of social insurance premiums should be saved in the pension savings fund. The senior citizen fund, which has been talked about for many years, is now being realized.”

The newly amended Elder Law has new regulations, including regulations that organizations and businesses should employ the elderly not less than two percent of their total number of employees, the possibility of retirement by the elderly of their own choice, in the event of the death of a pensioner 20 percent of the pension will be added to the pension of his or her spouse, the pension will be increased annually in line with the inflation rate, and an employed elderly person may not pay social insurance contributions if he or she wishes.