Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew says there should be no retirement age for workers in Singapore on Wednesday at a dialogue session in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) which was attended by over 900 senior managers, government officials and unionists.
So what are your views on the statement made by MM Lee?
Having to work and pay off the house, car and kids' education and other expenses for many many years, retirement is a golden period in life to do the things you never had the time. Things like taking up a new hobby, traveling to countries which you had wish to go but never got the chance, finish the books which you had bought over the years but never got the chance to read and finally enjoy quality time with your children and grandchildren.
People aged and with it their physical and mental abilities decline. It is a natural process where the younger and more energetic generation step forward and replace the older but more experienced generation. It is a natural process to ensure that the economy remain competitive and everyone is moving forward. Hence for the older generation it is natural that they will reach an age where by they will retire and handover the battle to the younger generation.
So what are your views on the statement made by MM Lee?
Having to work and pay off the house, car and kids' education and other expenses for many many years, retirement is a golden period in life to do the things you never had the time. Things like taking up a new hobby, traveling to countries which you had wish to go but never got the chance, finish the books which you had bought over the years but never got the chance to read and finally enjoy quality time with your children and grandchildren.
People aged and with it their physical and mental abilities decline. It is a natural process where the younger and more energetic generation step forward and replace the older but more experienced generation. It is a natural process to ensure that the economy remain competitive and everyone is moving forward. Hence for the older generation it is natural that they will reach an age where by they will retire and handover the battle to the younger generation.
Of cos having say that if the older generation have means to earn $3 millions a year, I think they will not mind working till the day their life ends. But dun they think they should give the younger generation a chance to earn that $3 million a year too? Dun you agree with me?
For me if I can earn $3 millions a year of cos I will want to earn that till the end of my life, but if I dun earn that amount or even 3% of that a year then looking forward to retirement seem like a better option for me.
If what I mention here is ever going to be taken into consideration, I would say it is good to have a fixed retirement age (like 62 or 65) but able to extent for another 5 more years where the retiree can have the flexibility of choosing when he wishes to retire within the 5 years. If the younger generation has the ability to carry on the work, the older generation should give up their seats to the younger generation and let them carry on. That is why we all have children and groom them to be useful people in society.
But if the younger generation lack of the ability to carry on the work, then the older generation can take up a guidance role for a few years and guide the younger generation. But ultimately the younger generation should be the ones running the show and gaining the experiences.
I will end off with this, Life is short, live it to its fullest. There is more to life than just money :)
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7 comments
I think the most important aspect of LKY's statement is; can we still trust him (or them)? At first, it was talks on delaying retirement. Years later, they talk about no retirement at all. He (or they) are free to flip the coin any way they like, any time they like.
Unfortunately, most aged in Singapore are in a different predicament compared to LKY. If LKY is to retire, he loses power. Therefore, he can't afford to retire. But the aged commoners aren't power-obsessed. They certainly don't have any good reasons to hang on to more than they should.
Taking into account it was also his idea to implement the stop-at-2 policy back then, I don't see how the citizens should be made to pay for his mistake. Singaporeans aren't exactly sacrificial lambs, to say the least.
you use your real name already! proven that i haven't been hanging around for quite a while. :p
oh my, no retirement doesn't sound very inviting. like what you said, gotta live life to its fullest, so i guess work or no work, it is making sure that we are happy is what's more important. :)
Maybe for private companies you can set no retirement age. However, private companies mostly employed people who are mentally and physically fit.
And how about the issue on fresh graduates who need jobs but can find one because the older employees are still working?
Hi Ed, nice comment :)
Hi Levian, haha long time you nv visit my blog. But I started using my own name only 3 days back so no worries.
Hi RWS, Thanks for visiting my blog. Yup it is why retirement age is very important. This is to ensure the industry is always replacing the old blood with new blood by having the old blood retire once the retirement age is reach.
If not the younger or fresh grads will have a lower chance of getting employed.
I believe retirement for this up coming generation will be an improbability due to the world-wide economic crisis. If you are not investing your time in earning some type of residual income, from a consumable product, then you don't have a chance. This is why the network marketing industry has and is so successful and intriguing. Are you are part of this present and future system? If not, I think we all should take another look so that we will not find ourselves being slaves to a system and getting nothing for our efforts. Now is the time to arise and smell the roses of success!
Anonnymous On Singapore's Lee County. LKY, you're full of bullshit man. Why don't you leave the decisions to all the senior citizens to decide what they planned to do with their own lives after they reached their retirement peak form. They aren't your small kids nor are they(senior citizens)greying generations weakling too.On what rightful grounds, do you think, you can control them or should there be a need for retirement, it's up to them as well. Using : Command & Conquer system, it doesn't works on the greying senior citizens at all.It's a computer game format not real life examples. Even if they planned to retire early, that's up to them too. You're not their father or mother, on what rightful grounds do you think you can control & even conquer their greying lives too huh ? ? They're not you're kids nor are they your next of kins too. Just leave them alone to decide on their own, what's their final decisions to do when they hit retirement form. You'll be a great help if you leave them all alone & not planned anything silly/foolish for them, as seems they're all your little kids soon to be retired from their active workforce. This piece of news is deemed absurd man. Nonsense & crappy.
As a government of a small tiny country, instead of suggestings to all the greying populations, you acted out as if you're their forefather's or godfather to them. They've every single right's to accept or reject your requests. Coz, it's not suggestions at all. It's like a demand. To stayed on or retired for good to cared for their grandchildrens, if they've got any from their growing children. It's seriously their choices & not yours. You've no right's to judge nor decide for anyone here in the greying community. Should they planned to stayed on longer in the work force too, it's their decisions as well. To keep demantia's at bay & lead a healthy mind & healthy body. The final decisions will still be on them the greying populations. You've no right's here. Thank you very much. & they're not you're kids nor your home kept pets. Stayed away from their retirement affairs, if you want them to love you & not hate you back in the long term. Thanks again. Be a dark knight in shining armour, to care & protect. Not a despicable tyrant to them, after all, they're your fellow senior citizens, not your babies.
You mind your own biz & they your fellow greying citizens will tends to theirs too. Care for them only when they required to visit doctors & nurses when sickness & illness plagued them in their health. Be mindful not nosey. Thanks again. Showed that you cared & loved them, subsidized those unable to work & deemed unfit to fend for themselves with your undying love & concern like a nightingale(nurse). Not a devil. Thanks ! !
Fm : Anonnymous.
Have a good heart & do what you gonna do as a charitable person & you've all the love you ever needed from them. Lose them all & becomes a real tyrant to all who once supported you. Thanks again.
Working longer is not necessarily bad, as long as the employer is still willing to hire you and pay you the same salary.
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