Daily Lessons from Life 17 August 2010 - Retain workers beyond age 65

"Retain workers beyond age 65 - Tue, Aug 17, 2010 my paper

HIGHER employment rates and more job opportunities for older workers cannot be brought about just by doing away with the retirement age, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Boon Heng in Parliament yesterday.

He added that a 'practical step-by-step approach' should be adopted, through practices such as re-employment and a flexible wage system. This will require a mindset change before Singapore can have a higher employment rate for seniors, he added."

This topic was first breached by MM Lee, the most respected, if not the most powerful, politician in Singapore in a National Day celebration dinner with his constituents. And, as usual, or as happened in the past few decades, the nation picked up the debates that he started.

Lessons for me are:

1. What is retirement? Is it different for people living in an urbane society vs. those that live off the land and with very little material needs? Can the people be told to continue working so that they can make a living and not burden the society with their medical care in their old age? Or not burden their children, who probably have their own families to take care of?;

2. for the rich and wealthy, choosing to retire or not is really a choice. We can expound on all the benefits the old people can gain from staying active and working. The benefits are probably true too for most oldies. Whatever it maybe, these rich and wealthy people can retire if they so wished! Yes?;

3. for those who have to continue working to make a living to make ends meet, there is no choice! Or there is, a better paying job through luck or upgrade of skills or whatever. This group of people probably do not need any encouragement to egg them to continue working. The challenge is: how to help them work happily and, hence, promote their health as well?;

4. for those who believed whatever the benefits that not retiring are, these the authority has been exhorting, there is really no need for any more selling efforts. They are convinced that continuing working will keep their minds nimble, their physical well being better, and financially well rewarded for their efforts!

The ultimate question for those in item 3 mentioned above: what is life? born to work so that one can make enough to live? If this group is the majority, we will have some real challenges!! Is this really the type of Lifestyle a First World Nation aspired to be?

A first world government will be hard put to resolve this dilemma. Can Singapore government defy destiny again?