Citing Interior Ministry data, the newspaper writes that 29% of public works employees were over 50 years of age in 2016, but this figure is now at 37.5%, while the proportion of women has risen from less than half to 59%.

Women approaching retirement age “do their utmost to get a little income,” said Jenő Schmidt, president of the National Association of Local Governments.

Where there is no possibility of earning money from cleaning or other household work, public work schemes are an option. Those over retirement age more often join two- or three-month seasonal work programmes.

MTI Photo: Rosta Tibor