TL;DR – Another perspective.
Last week, it was announced that the retirement and re-employment ages for Singapore workers will be progressively raised to 65 and 70 years old respectively under the law, to allow older Singaporeans who wish to continue working to do so.
Retirement age and re-employment age to increase to 63 and 68 respectively from 1 July 2022
In a Facebook post, Labour MP Heng Chee How who has been advocating for mature workers for years also took to his Facebook post to show his support for the move.
Because to the Labour MP, the Retirement and Re-employment Age (Amendment) Bill will give better protection to our senior workers who wish to continue working.
However, it seems that Straits Times Forum writer Mr Francis Cheng does not quite agree with this new announcement because, in a forum letter, he opined that older workers should not “cling” on to their jobs and stand in the way of younger workers.
He explains that workers in their early to late 30s might not be able to advance in the company’s hierarchy if the seniors above them won’t retire.
Cheng also added that older workers who can afford to retire early should give the younger generation a chance to climb up, adding that the older workers can always volunteer or offer mentorship to the young if they are bored with retirement.
The ST forum writer then concluded his letter saying: “If too many seniors cling to their jobs even when they don’t need them, there may be fewer opportunities for the next generation.”
You may read his letter in full text below:
Singapore must tread carefully in handling the issue of raising the retirement and re-employment ages. Care must be taken not to cause resentment on the part of younger workers.
Workers in their prime (early to late 30s) might not be able to advance in the company’s hierarchy if the seniors above them won’t retire.
Older workers who can afford to retire early should give the younger generation a chance to climb up. They can always volunteer or offer mentorship to the young if they are bored with retirement.
If too many seniors cling to their jobs even when they don’t need them, there may be fewer opportunities for the next generation.
Francis Cheng
What do you think?
