SINGAPORE: Should certain jobs be reserved for older workers,
especially in a tough job market?
That's one of the more controversial ideas brought up in Parliament
this week.
And while some worry about the market distortion that could cause,
others argue not doing anything would create even more problems
down the road.
72-year-old Ng See Siong has worked as a trolley retriever in
Changi Airport for 3 years.
He applied for the job after noticing many older workers in this
profession.
For Ng and 70-year old former policeman Soaeb Hasbullah, both had
to work at various odd jobs after retirement before getting their
present job of trolley retriever.
Mr Ng said: "Because old man nobody wants to take."
Mr Soaeb said: "It is very hard for me to get a job to secure
myself."
Both men are part of a new silver contingent at Changi Airport
where at least 70 per cent of the trolley retrievers are aged 55
and above.
But it wasn't always like that.
"In the beginning, it didn't start as a deliberate policy. What
happened is that we didn't reject anyone that came to us for a job
and over time it evolved and now we use it as a deliberate policy
to give elderly jobs. They have a very good attitude and they are
very patient," said Aaron Tiong Yuen, general manager of WSID Pte
Ltd.
So what started off as something by word of mouth has now become
established practice so much so that even children apply for these
jobs for their parents.
But should this become a deliberate policy in other
industries?
And if so, how can it be done?
Unionists like Nithiah Nandan are all for the idea which, he says,
will need employers, government and workers to think
differently.
One complication is that not all older workers fall into a
homogenous group.
Mr Nithiah Nandan said: "When we zero in on older workers, we say
they are low skilled, low paid, untrainable. I mean, economic
downturn showed us three layers were affected. One comes from lower
end, one comes from middle level where layering has been reduced
and there is the professional group because certain industries have
disappeared. We cannot just lump them together and say look at
cleaning industry - that is unsuitable for certain groups."
And while some Singaporeans may agree to giving older workers jobs,
there are concerns about market distortions.
"There will be some market distortions, if instead of letting
market forces play, you adjust it. But in any country, that will
happen. If you don't do that, other civic and social problems might
also cause market distortions," said Mr Nithiah Nandan.
"Should just leave it to the market, depends on whether older
workers are suitable for the jobs in the first place, because if
you reserve the jobs for the older workers, what about the rest?"
said a member of the public.
But another said: "It's a good idea. Finding a job in Singapore is
very difficult now, even for the youngsters."
"Totally agree, because I know of some very fit older people who
are just idling at home. Maybe, you should have a quota, then it's
a fair system, no one complains," said a third.
A tripartite panel has been formed to consider how to keep the
greying population employed longer. - CNA