Start talks on extending re-employment age soon

Start talks on extending re-employment age soon
PHOTO: Start talks on extending re-employment age soon

The Government should start discussions with tripartite partners on "how soon and how best" to raise the re-employment age from the current 65 to 67, Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How said on Tuesday during the Budget debate.

Renewing a call he has made before in Parliament, the National Trades Union Congress deputy-secretary general noted that re-employment now allows workers to work beyond the retirement age of 62, till the age of 65. He wants tripartite talks to begin on extending this to 67, as provided for in existing law.

The time is ripe for this, he said, given the tight labour market, the need for companies to retain experienced workers, the improved health of older cohorts, and requests from older workers to stay in their jobs.

Mr Heng also called for re-employed workers to be allowed to keep their existing healthcare co-payment arrangements, rather than being saddled with new arrangements under which they must shoulder more of the cost. He also wants a review of the Advantage! scheme, which helps firms redesign workplaces and work processes to be age-friendly, and for it to be boosted.

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