PETALING JAYA: A workers’ rights group has proposed that employees be given the option to work up to the age of 65.
The Social Protection Contributors Advisory Association Malaysia (SPCAAM) said this option should be available in both the private and public sectors, with workers neither forced into retirement nor compelled to work.
The group’s international labour adviser, Callistus Antony D’Angelus, said those who continued to work beyond 60 should not be subjected to employment on a contract basis as this would “give rise to precarious and exploitative employment practices” involving these aged workers.
“Extending the retirement age would enable workers to work beyond 60 and up to 65 years of age, thereby easing the economic strain on themselves and the nation as a whole,” he said in a statement.
Those who opt to retire at 60 should be allowed to do so, regardless of the reason, he added.
D’Angelus added that businesses could benefit if such a proposal was implemented as they would have access to an experienced workforce for a longer period of time and would have less reason to complain about the lack of skilled and experienced workers.
He said Malaysia needed “creative and equitable solutions” to resolve issues affecting workers and called for a major reform of labour and economic policies.
D’Angelus was commenting on the recent revelation by the Employees Provident Fund that 51.5% of its members under the age of 55 had savings of below RM10,000, which he said could lead to a “serious socio-economic crisis” for those approaching retirement age in Malaysia.
The current age of retirement in the public sector is 60.
