Besides general cleaning, those hotel room cleaners need to change the bed sheets of at least 10 rooms per shift. Anyone know the weight of an eight inches thick Q-size mattress?

It is also heart aching to see fragile elderly workers (some as old as 70) washing slippery toilets, clearing crockery, doing over night guard duties etc.

It is not purely because of “face”that many people disapproved of their parents doing the above works

Generally, I don’t think (except in some specific cases) senior citizens are economically exploited per say. I think the problem lies in that even though being paid at “fair market rates” and working very hard, it may not be enough for them to sustain a “desirable” standard of living. The direct reason is that, for some of them, the total economic production throughout their lives could not accumulate enough wealth (which is not a disgrace).

“Pro-business” policies are not at fault. By pro-business policies, I do not mean rules that give businesses advantage. What I mean is policies that create a more “efficient” market, to both businesses and CONSUMERS. I don’t think it is productive trying to blame anyone. Rather, they need more social welfare support. It’s a question of where the money comes from and how best to use it.

In other words, I think we should create an environment that businesses like to stay because they make profits, and consumers are happy because they are getting what they want at the lowest possible price. And corporate and personal income taxes, GST, and other taxes are used to fund social welfare.

WIth a separation of economic and social welfare policies, the channel to help senior citizens becomes more direct and transparent. So, all discussions can be focus on getting more budget (from tax revenue) or formulating better policies to better utilise the funds. This makes discussion less complicated.

(Note: I have to use another nickname, because my comment, exactly duplicated above, is in moderation. I don’t know if TOC blacklisted me, but I don’t see anything wrong with my comment)

Generally, I don’t think (except in some specific cases) senior citizens are economically exploited per say. I think the problem lies in that even though being paid at “fair market rates” and working very hard, it may not be enough for them to sustain a “desirable” standard of living. The direct reason is that, for some of them, the total economic production throughout their lives could not accumulate enough wealth (which is not a disgrace).

“Pro-business” policies are not at fault. By pro-business policies, I do not mean rules that give businesses advantage. What I mean is policies that create a more “efficient” market, to both businesses and CONSUMERS. I don’t think it is productive trying to blame anyone. Rather, they need more social welfare support. It’s a question of where the money comes from and how best to use it.

In other words, I think we should create an environment that businesses like to stay because they make profits, and consumers are happy because they are getting what they want at the lowest possible price. And corporate and personal income taxes, GST, and other taxes are used to fund social welfare.

WIth a separation of economic and social welfare policies, the channel to help senior citizens becomes more direct and transparent. So, all discussions can be focus on getting more budget (from tax revenue) or formulating better policies to better utilise the funds. This makes discussion less complicated.

This is my current thinking:

Minimum wage

a) Firstly, I’m guessing that it is not so much of an issue that the wages of senior citizens are “unfairly suppressed”. By unfairly suppressed, I mean whether they are paid below the market rate. So in terms of economic distribution, the situation should be already fair generally. Another way of looking at it is that if there is a shortage of senior citizens workers.

b) Rather, the issue I believed is that although the wages are at market rate, it is considered to be lower than what is desired, i.e. it is a social welfare issue, not an economic profit redistribution issue.

c) It may seem that pro-business policies is at fault. But to artificially suppress pro-business policies to give senior citizens a wage advantage above the market rate is to upset economic balances. By pro-business policies, I do not mean policies that give companies an advantage; rather I mean policies that creates a more “efficient” market place, i.e. there is no option that can benefit both producers or CONSUMERS.

d) Imposing a minimum wage may create market inefficiencies, i.e. either companies or consumers absorb the cost. Of course, the impact might not be much. If it’s not much, then it is an effective policy which is also easy to implement. But we probably need actual and local statistics make the case more convincing. Internationally, it is still controversial among economists, so information another country is probably not very useful.

e) Suppose now we agree that senior citizens are given their fair economic share of profits but lacking in social benefits. I personally rather made up using a better social welfare policy which can come in both monetary and non-monetary forms. This I believe is also more transparent.

f) Also, i also hope that we can ease the social stigma of working “after retirement”. Senior citizens should not need to work to survive, but choosing to work should not be associated with disgrace.

Pro-business policies and social welfare

g) I prefer separating economic polices from social welfare policies. I prefer policies which generate as much fair economy activity as possible. Fair as in fair to both businesses and consumers. Then, tax the economic activities to redistribute social welfare to senior citizens. I think this is more transparent, and it can be done without conflicts.

h) In other words, I think we should create an environment that businesses like to stay because they make profits, and consumers are happy because they are getting what they want at the lowest possible price. And corporate and personal income taxes, GST, and other taxes are used to fund social welfare. In this way, we can narrow down the discussion to one place: social welfare policies.

Lee Tock Kong, PPA (Pegawai Pandai Angkat )
Prime-Aged Citizen of Sin City.

I carried out a survey in my blog. Many people replied that part time job is an interesting option. They are willing to try out a part time job paying an hourly rate.

The survey results are shown here:
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=11702093&postID=7496499617035387583&isPopup=true

I will be getting someone to develop an internet portal to help people to find part time jobs near their homes. The employers should also consider this type of flexible work force, with a competitive wage structure. The employer will not be burdened with a fixed cost.

After working part time, the older worker may be offered a full time job by the employer, if there is a good fit.

http://dotseng.wordpress.com/2009/01/10/ah-kong-ah-ma-are-going-back-to-work-the-great-

The writer seems a bit idealistic, but what he says seems to make sense. For your information.

Nice site! bye

i saw this report here:

http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/01/singaporeans-ranked-lowest/

it seems that CPF is not enough…something is not right w our CPF and govt shld review n rectify its policies in order for plp to retire ‘deservingly’ when they are old. unless its the elderly’s choice to cont working for their own enjoyment.

Are you suggesting to work till one drops dead?

If there is no such word, then people would not “retire”.

We need to change that. The challenge is a paradigm shift from the word “retirement” to “active aging stage”

Instead of the word, “retiree” or “retired”, use the word “active ager” or “active aged worker”.

Think of working as a way of life: Live to work and work to live.

The question here is they only care about their own interest in making money for themselves and their party. Since when did they ever listen to the people of singapore, since when? quote me an example. All I can see is that whatever they want to do, whether you like it or not they just go ahead and implement it, worse still they passed it as a law so no one can go against them. How many of these cases (mostly to do with price hikes and things that are against their party interest) has already been passed as laws and implemented eversince LHL took over office. Tell me? Try doing these things in country like thailand, South Korea or Japan and see can happen, talking about democracy….oh please stop all these hypocrinism, I can’t imagine how thick skin these people have.