The first-ever high high level OECD conference on ageing will get under way today with addresses by Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec and Gabriela Ramos of the OECD.

Ministers and state secretaries in charge of employment, health and education, and experts from NGOs will then discuss OECD proposed policies for fighting inequality in ageing and opportunities for their implementation in individual states, the organisers said.

They include proposals to ensure equal access to healthcare, to address consequences of ending a career on income in terms of gender equality and to ensure older workers can participate in the labour market.

On the sidelines of the conference, an event titled Efforts for Sustainability and Equality in Ageing will be held. It is meant to present an opportunity for Slovenian start-ups, established companies and institutions to put on display innovative products in ageing and healthcare.

The conference will draw to a close with closing remarks by Education Minister Maja Makovec Brenčič on Friday.

Slovenia is among EU members that are most affected by ageing population. According to the government think-tank IMAD, the share of those aged between 20 and 64 will go down to 55.6% in 2030 from 62.2% in 2016. Meanwhile, the share of those older than 65 will go up from 18.4% to 24.8%.