Govt has to study viability of extending retirement age past 60

- Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has to study the viability of extending the age of retirement past 60, says Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim (pic).

The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said although she has received suggestions to raise the retirement age to 65, it would not happen in the immediate future.   

“Though we accept the idea, we need to study it thoroughly.

“It can’t happen immediately. There has to be a lot of engagement and we still need to assess the current system,” she explained.

Speaking at a seminar at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel here Saturday, Rohani explained that extensive research had to be carried out before any amendments to the current retirement age of 60 could be made.

“We only recently raised the retirement age from 55 to 60,” she said.

Rohani explained that the current “support structure”, which includes departments such as the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), is only just adjusting to the retirement age of 60.

She said any suggestions to raise the retirement age would not depend on the decision of her ministry alone, but also other agencies such as the Public Service Department (JPA).

“We won’t (increase the retirement age) at the moment. We have to first assess the current retirement age.

“We have to remember, if we keep on raising the retirement age, those who are supposed to be promoted will also be affected,” Rohani explained.

She said the Government was making efforts to cater to the needs of senior citizens who still want to work past the current retirement age of 60.

According to Rohani, senior citizens over the age of 60 have a different approach to working and want a job with flexible hours.

 

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