Have policy to protect rights of older
workers
Sat, Jul 28, 2007
The Straits Times
IN THE article, 'When ladies' night isn't for all ladies' (ST, July
11), Dr Andy Ho discussed the marginalising effects of age and
gender discrimination.
Dr Ho suggested that older women who are discriminated against
could perhaps contest the issue in the courts. His article made me
wonder whether the rights of older adults are protected by our
laws.
Currently, 7 per cent of Singapore's population is over the age of
65 and, by 2030, this will increase to 19 per cent.
Additionally, Singapore has one of the fastest-growing ageing
populations in Asia.
There is psychological research which shows that those who are 65
and above perceive they have lower status than those who are
middle-aged, and they are more likely to perceive age
discrimination directed against them.
Research has also shown age consistently plays a negative role in
hiring decisions and evaluation of older adults' work
performance.
Because of these reasons, policies relating to age discrimination
in the workplace should be addressed.
Currently, there are no legal protections or policies in place that
prevent discrimination from taking place in workplaces, for
example, employers giving preferential treatment to younger job
applicants, giving more promotion opportunities to younger people
in the organisation while letting the older adults languish in the
system, laying off disproportionately more older and more
experienced workers or conferring full-time status on younger
part-time employees over older part-time employees who have worked
in the organisation for many years.
It is a known and unfortunate fact that older adults experience and
accept age discrimination in work settings.
While I acknowledge the contribution of the Government in providing
infrastructure and a commerce-friendly environment for big
businesses to thrive, we should take into account the rights of the
people who in their prime contributed to the prosperity of these
corporations.
I would like to propose that the authorities consider a
comprehensive policy which protects the rights of older
workers.
Perhaps a commission or national committee comprising
human-resource officers, chief executive officers, social workers,
conflict-mediation specialists and policymakers should be set up to
discuss how we could address age-related discrimination in the
workplace. Protecting the rights of older adults is the hallmark of
a civil society.
Dr Adrian John Kok Chung Ming
Readers' Comments:
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Is was the HR practioners problem...they need to practised what he
are doing now, otherwise they will be out of job...
The HR alway compliant of the problem they faced with older
workers....so the can get the young and inexperience workers then
the HR can easiely 'control them''
and made thier job easier..
-/-
Also another problem is this PAP government who allowed unlimited
cheaper supply of labour from the ''entire world supply''
Most of the counties will ''protect'' their own ciziten as the
first prority when come to employement...SG don't protect it
voter/it employees...just compare the numbers of foreigner that
work in singapore to actual jobless (employable up to 62)
singaporean (who also voted the PAP government)
Posted by: New Wave at Sat Jul 28 17:18:34 SGT 2007
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[QUOTE=chieftain;68659]The govt wants to extend the retirement age
while the reality is how many businesses & orgs are willing to
keep or hire workers older than 40? It just doesn't make
sense.
Just turn the TV on or read the magazines & we're inundated
with 'youth worshipping' culture & environment just like in the
West. As someone remarked, when you hit 40, better be able to hang
on to yr job or career bec you certainly Do Not want to look for a
job at this age range as you're more or less marked as 'over the
hill.' That's the unpleasant harsh reality.[/QUOTE]
-/-
Its just alot of lip service.
If they really want to lead by example.
The civil service should take the lead
followed by the GLC ( state owned enterprise).
Then the rest of the people can see .....
Posted by: loyaltosingapore at Sat Jul 28 14:51:13 SGT 2007
