Utilise talents of older PMETS

Last Friday's letter ("Underdog made good" by Mr Jeremy Cheong Weng Kee) mentioned that our country is filled with resilient people who are capable of doing extraordinary things.

Indeed, employers should ponder over this statement before rejecting older job applicants who were professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) without even giving them the chance to attend an interview.

Many baby boomer PMETs aged between 50 and 70 are academically qualified and worked in multinational corporations in the 1980s and 1990s, gaining experience in various fields such as information technology, petrochemicals, electronics and semi-conductors.

Back then, the productivity drive was in full swing to push our workers to be more efficient, productive and innovative.

That generation was more resilient and resourceful because it was tough going in Singapore's early years. Issues like housing, education, health care and transport were not easily resolved.

The workers played a role in transforming Singapore into a modern country that built its success on its only resource - its people. Currently, there are many older PMETs whose talents are going to waste. We must make full use of them as this will pay economic dividends for companies in the long haul, and social dividends for Singapore as well.

Priscilla Poh Beng Hoon (Ms)

This article was first published on July 30, 2014.
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