Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is giving retirees opportunities to return to the workforce.
Retired teachers, engineers and administrative workers are now trying their hand at various jobs under the Senior Citizens Empowerment Programme.
Penang mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the city council had hired eight people since the inception of the programme last July.
He said the seniors had begun serving various internal departments in MBPP.
These include assisting with clerical tasks (sorting and filing), maintaining the cleanliness of MBPP-owned public toilets, segregating recyclable items, cleaning tasks at the Vector Health Unit, as well as planting and landscaping work.
There were also openings as caretakers at the National Cancer Society of Malaysia-MBPP Home of Hope (a transit home for cancer patients).
“Twenty senior citizens and retirees, who wished to take up part-time employment, have registered to take part in the programme.
“To date, eight senior citizens have been employed by MBPP.
“We asked what kind of work they preferred and found jobs that would best suit them.
“For example, we found that the retired teacher writes and converses well, so she would be suited to clerical tasks.
“Many are open to any job opportunity as they want to fill their time, stay active and connect with people.”
Rajendran said the current allowance rate was RM8 per hour for a total of six working hours per day.
“We are in the process of revising the rate to RM9.50 per hour.”
Rajendran said the council was also working with local hotels to offer part-time employment opportunities to senior citizens.
He said they welcomed senior citizens from all backgrounds and professional experiences.
