PETALING JAYA: Younger generations of workers want fair career opportunities while working alongside their senior colleagues.
They are worried that their career advancement would be limited or even obstructed if senior workers choose to remain in the workforce instead of retiring.
Some also say there are advantages to having senior workers around.
For example, seniors can help mentor the younger ones, imparting knowledge and skills to them.
Push for renewal: (From left) Muhammad Awliya, Nur Atiqah and Indra Gandi.
Writer Dominic Tan Jian Wei, 23, feels that the youth are not being prioritised for promotion, as there are still many senior citizens working in the media, and most of them already have an established working relationship with the bosses.
“I noticed that some superiors tend to prefer giving important work to older workers due to their experience. So how do I obtain the same kind of experience when I am not even given the chance to progress?” he asked.
Fortunately, Tan’s senior colleagues are not stingy when it comes to sharing their experience and mentoring him.
He hopes senior workers will be more open to using new technologies like artificial intelligence, as these tools can help make work more efficient.
Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Student Union president Muhammad Awliya Mohd Fauzi, 24, sees no problem in having seniors in the workforce as long as they are healthy.
“They have a lot of experience that we, the younger generation, can learn from.
“I think they bring a lot of value, especially through mentoring and sharing their experience.
“They’ve gone through things we haven’t. But in industries that move fast, like technology, younger employees might adapt quicker,” he said.
Muhammad Awliya added that the government should introduce programmes to support youth employment.
Nur Atiqah Mohd Zamri, 23, a graduate trainee, is fine with the government’s proposal to extend the retirement age because some senior employees may be facing personal or financial challenges.
“Both groups of senior and younger workers have the right to contribute meaningfully to the workforce. Age alone shouldn’t determine capability,” she said.
She added that companies and the government should work together to create more pathways for young job seekers, ensuring that everyone has a fair shot at meaningful employment.
Senior worker Hafsah Atan, 57, would love to continue working, but how long she stays in her job will depend on the state of her health.
“I will see how I am when I pass the 60-year mark. If I am capable, I will continue to work the same job and upskill myself with new things.
“However, if my health starts acting up, then I won’t continue,” said Hafsah, who is an advertising executive.
There are financial commitments that require her to keep working, even though her husband is also a provider, said the mother of four children who are still studying.
Teacher Indra Gandi Vellasamy, 59, said while she still has a passion for teaching, the government should allow senior workers sufficient time to plan for any policy changes.
“We shouldn’t be pressured into teaching for additional years because it’s not easy to keep up with the generation of students today,” said Indra, who is retiring soon.
She recommends granting senior workers flexibility in their work schedules, given their heightened health vulnerability.
Meanwhile, big South Korean companies are hiring fewer workers in their 20s than those aged 50 and above, Bernama reported, quoting Yonhap.
The report said this reflects a reduction in hiring youth due to an economic slowdown, particularly in industries like information technology and electronics.
Data from the corporate tracker Leaders Index showed that, as of end-2024, employees in their 20s accounted for 19.8% of the workforce at 124 leading firms by sales – down 1.2 percentage points from a year earlier.
In contrast, the share of employees aged 50 or older rose 0.6 percentage points to 20.1%, marking the first time since 2015, when the index began compiling such data, that younger workers were outnumbered by older ones.
