Royal Decree-Law 5/2013 with measures to promote the employment continuity of older workers and promote active ageing

Real Decreto-ley 5/2013, de 15 de marzo, de medidas para favorecer la continuidad de la vida laboral de los trabajadores de mayor edad y promover el envejecimiento activo

The Royal Decree-Law 5/2013, enacted by the Spanish Government on March 15, 2013, is a comprehensive policy designed to address the challenges posed by demographic shifts, such as low birth rates and increased life expectancy, which impact the sustainability of pension systems. The decree's objectives are to promote the active ageing of the workforce and to ensure the viability of the pension system for future generations. It encompasses all regimes within the Social Security System, with the exception of the passive classes regime, which follows its specific regulations. The policy's scope is national, targeting workers nearing retirement age and those already retired who are willing to remain active. It introduces significant reforms to the retirement system, including the compatibility of receiving a pension while continuing to work, either full-time or part-time, and the regulation of early and partial retirement conditions. Additionally, the law requires companies to make economic contributions to the State in case of collective redundancies including workers aged 50 or more, aiming to discourage age discrimination and to rationalize the obligations of companies in the context of employment regulation measures.