By Koh Hui Theng

RETIRED security guard George Apputusamy, 75, was asked to return to work when he turned 70.

After spending 15 years patrolling commercial and residential properties, he stopped working in 2004, citing age as the reason.

His last client, a wealthy family whose home he watched over, missed him so much that they called his employer, Premier Security, and asked him to return.

Mr Apputusamy agreed and spent the next three years guarding their Grange Road home. He retired for good in 2006.

During his on-the-job years, Mr Apputusamy drew the same pay as his younger colleagues. Premier's managing director, Mr Saraj Din, 63, said that the company makes it a point to give all its guards the same $1,500 to $1,800 wages, including those above the official retirement age of 62.

'We want to give our older staff a chance to work.

'They will be demoralised if they get a lower salary for doing the same job as their younger counterparts,' he said.

In fact, of the security firm's 500 guards, 150 are aged above 62. Its oldest worker is a 77- year-old former fireman.

Premier Security is one employer that the labour movement hopes to see more of.

At the close of the three-day National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Ordinary Delegates' Conference 2009 yesterday, union leaders called on companies to re-hire more older workers without cutting their pay.

NTUC assistant secretarygeneral Halimah Yacob also called for firms to introduce 'measures like flexible work hours and telecommuting to draw more women back to the workforce'.

Re-hiring older workers and women would help firms compete more effectively in the years ahead, as Singapore strives to become a 'cheaper, better and faster' economy in which companies boost productivity and profits, said labour chief Lim Swee Say.

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