I believe this article says a lot about how well our government has
provided for us older generations; - no real means to support
ourselves when old.
Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 21 September 2005 1133 hrs
Singaporeans trained to work, not to retire: elderly
By Loh Chee Kong, TODAY
They are well educated and established in their respective
professions, but when it comes to growing old, their worry is as
basic as this - jobs.
At a government feedback session organised for the elderly last
Friday, the 30-odd participants - ranging from consultants to
senior engineers and company directors - agreed on one thing:
Singapore is "not a good place to retire in".
It is hard to find and sustain employment in one's old age because
of the ageist sentiments of employers, they said.
A retiree who spent a large part of her life in the United Kingdom
noted that "the old are being marginalised".
"Singapore is not a good place to retire in," she said. "The old
should be enjoying their time, not working as cleaners."
Another participant, a 55-year-old consultant, added that
Singaporeans are "trained to work, not to retire".
"It seems that people like me are being forced to work overseas.
I'm planning to go to Malaysia through its 'silver-haired scheme',"
he said.
Mr Phua Kok Tee, the 68-year-old CEO of Singapore Action Group for
the Elderly, said that more should be done to tap into the service
industry to provide jobs for the elderly.
"For example, in Borders in the United States, 16 per cent of its
staff are 50 years old and above, as compared to just 6 per cent in
1999.
"This only came about after a conscious and concerted effort to
provide employment for the elderly," he said.
This "constant cry for employment", given the participants' ages
and relatively successful backgrounds, surprised Tampines GRC MP
Sin Boon Ann, who chaired the session.
The 47-year-old MP asked the participants: "It's interesting how
many of you are still thinking about finding or sustaining
employment. Why not retire early and enjoy life? If it's a case of
finances, what are your expectations?"
He added: "I suspect in Singapore, our expectations are set by the
pace of life. A lot of pleasures don't have to cost the sky. For
me, it can be just bringing my family to the beach."
If it is a question of financial security, many Singaporeans are
putting unnecessary stress on themselves, he said.
But isn't the high cost of living a real issue?
Speaking to Today, Mr Sin said: "The cost of living could be a
concern but I do not think that it is such a worry as to cause the
elderly to be pre-occupied with staying employed.
"With adequate savings, planning and careful budgeting
they
should have enough to see them through their old age."
He went on to assure Singapore's greying population that the
country would not leave them behind.
"What they should perhaps realise is that we have a social safety
net to look after them. They should take comfort in the fact that,
should they run out of savings when they are older, there is always
the family to fall back on.
"If there is no family support, then of course, the society and the
community will look after them. And this is what making Singapore
as a nation is all about." - TODAY/sh
