It seems that PM Lee Hsien Loong is out of touch with the reality faced by many Singaporean seniors. On 11 Apr, PM Lee spoke at the ‘Singapore Ageing: Issues and Challenges Ahead’ book launch. In his comments, he claimed that many older Singaporeans want to keep working and are physically and mentally robust well into their 70s and beyond.
“Many of those in their 70s and beyond are still physically and mentally robust… Many older Singaporeans want to keep active and continue working.”
PM Lee Hsien Loong
But let’s be real here – retirement is a time for seniors to finally enjoy their well-deserved rest and relaxation, not to continue slogging away in the workforce. Many seniors face health issues and caregiving responsibilities, which can make working into their later years an impossibility.
PM Lee’s comments fail to recognize the unique challenges that older Singaporeans face.
It’s time for the government to stop pushing this false narrative that older workers are all eager to keep working, and instead start supporting seniors in their retirement plans.
This means offering more flexible work arrangements and providing access to healthcare and care-giving resources to support seniors who do choose to work past retirement age. It also means creating a culture that values older adults as contributors to society, regardless of whether they are still working or not.
In conclusion, it’s time for the government to wake up and recognize the realities faced by many Singaporean seniors. We need policies that support seniors in their retirement plans and ensure that they can enjoy their golden years to the fullest. Let’s stop perpetuating harmful stereotypes and start prioritizing the well-being of our older adults.
Can I suggest the govt start extending the working age of civil servant and statboard employees. Employees should be allow to continuing working if they are fit and have no disciplinary action against them. It should not be a worker must retire from is job and go and work as a cleaner or some other lower grade job because it not only insult him but his family too. If he has children with status, he can’t work. If he is allow to continue in his old job, it’s different as he knows the work well and he likes the work otherwise he would have left it when time is up.