Comments on: Raising retirement age

By: David N Chai

David N Chai — Sun, 09 May 2010 07:02:02 +0000

Just a respond to the comment on Rising Retirement Age by “the online citizen July 19th, 2007 and later posted by visitors, Siew91. Yes, do agreed to the suggestion our government may help by allowing senior citizen be employed perhaps on contract basis onto various state board and quasi sectors and does allevaites some financial problems and needs and, at the same provide mental relief faced by the baby boomers. And example has been set by the US MacDonald fast food outlets with preference hiring the senior who does put in an honest effort worth onto their daily jobs. This is the research outcome by the job provider at USA.
Do hope some one catch this appeal and thank you.

By: George

George — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:43:10 +0000

Aging population was a result of policy of the 60s and 70s when the gahment encouraged family to stop at two. In the 60s, it was not uncommon to see family of 4,6,8 and more. The largest family I know was eighteen, the father was a street vendor selling cooked food. Short sighted policy to deal with short term issue while neglecting the long term consequences. We are paying for it now as we see this massive inflood of FT/FW in Sinkapore. Who is responsible for all this mass? Why don’t he come out and admit it since he was quick to take all the glory for our success. Is truth too much for the LKY to accept? What consequences we will see in the future with the new FT/FW citizen – the jury is still out. We just hope, nothing too serious as to send the country into a spin.

By: Lai CF

Lai CF — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:17:17 +0000

I don’t think Ic an ever retired in SIngapore.

I intend to work till I am 70s or mroe, jsut to be able to pay for my 6-figure medical bills when I am chroncially-illed in my 80s (if I live that long).

The idea is to break that Vicious Cycle of “Sandwiched Generation” as I do not wish to be a “financial burden” to my children in shouldering part of my 6-figure medical bill.

Filial Piety?
Just another con-job by PAP Goverment to dodge the issue of “social welfarism” for those ageing baby-boomers borned in the 40s to 60s. Taht is, liek thos “Chinese grocer cum landlord” int eh 50s and 60s….the chidlren of the family is expected to honor the debts racked up by their parents…

And of course, Iw elcome Lee Hsien Loong’s speech on “not to prolong life” as I think maybe SIngpaore Euthanasia Centre may very well on the card to mitigate our ever-rising medical costs incurred by MOH.

Like e.g. S$2-billion budget to MOH and S$10-billion to MINDEF.

WHy allocate more to those that are dying and “going to die” anyway?

Why not give MIDNEF another S$1-billion or more so that we can always have an extremely impressive NAtioanl Day Match-Pass, broadcast to world-wide audience.

Almost like Gilgamesh’s proud proclamaiton to Gods:

“See my MIGHTY WORK AND WEEP”.

By: Lai CF

Lai CF — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:08:30 +0000

“All these talk about getting employers to hire old workers; how about the Gahmen themselves?”

My personal experience?

This year, I wrote to TWO of the biggest GLC in SIngapore. Offered to be posted in Middle East and India.
No reply.

I wrote to TWO Hong Kong companies?
1) Shortlisted by one….but I declined the “offer”.
2) On the waiting list on the other; subject to them securing a mega-project.
3) Keep in view on aJapanese company; subject o securing a mega-project as well.

Moral of the Story?

There is no place for the over-50s professional in GLC as they are staffed by “Superscale G” in their 30s and 40s.

My only recourse on securing a decent paying job in the construction industry is “networking” and headhunters from Hong Kong and Middle East.

How ironic that I heard Government is complaining that si a “shortage of cosntruction personnel” in SIngpaore booming construciton idnustry and I am “unwanted” in SIngapore…and needs to work in Dubai and Macau.

By: David

David — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 15:49:00 +0000

Retired ?
you must be dreaming. You can also expire in Singapore not retired !

By: Numb Already

Numb Already — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 01:34:31 +0000

All these talk about getting employers to hire old workers; how about the Gahmen themselves? Are they setting an example? Are there any statistics showing that the civil service themselves are hiring older workers? If so, wat’s the breakdown of these “older” new hires in the last few years (in terms of age groups, educational qualifications, etc)? Easy to keep asking the MacDonalds, KFC’s and Kopitiams to hire the aunties and uncles. During the 2002, 2003 “retrenchment” years, many unemployed professionals had tried to apply to the civil service. Wat’s the success rate? Many CDCs and whatever C’s set up all sorts of job search help services, but how many of these unemployed were actually placed in the civil service? How about they give us some data to show us that they are setting an example.

By: Y K

Y K — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:31:28 +0000

Very true. However, perhaps when the Government says jobs are available (which are in abundance) they meant cleaners, toilet attendants, fast food “slow work” aunties and uncles for those without paper qualifications, however they may have a lifetime experience having gone through the university of hard knocks.

It is an established fact that paper qualification is a must in certain professions, however there are industries where experience still knock out paper qualifications such as the travel and food industry.

It would be ideal to have perhaps a ratio of 70% younger well educated workers with 30% older, less paper qualifications but heaps of experience.

These 30% can than serve as “mentors” to the young who with their educational background and if coupled with the right attitude will be able to garner as much as possible the “beneficial experience” from these “mentors”.

These “mentors” on the other hand must have good work attitude to start with otherwise it will be a disaster as some may have gone senile.

To the employers including the Government, remember “YOU TOO CAN GROW OLD”.

By: Digits

Digits — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:14:39 +0000

“Our society is ageing and in the future we will need to utilize ALL the skills and experience of our entire workforce, both young and old, to give us the strength the global economy demands.”

Given a choice, most will want to retire or earned that option to do something meaningful( may or may not involve wage). That usually means financial freedom.

I am sure, many are working towards that.

In an economy heavily dependant on human resources couple with a small an aging population, you need to get them in debts or a lifetime of financial obligations in order to retain their services beyond their desired retirement age.

Otherwise, ta ta and the high maintenance economy and country may just grind to a halt or…………