Early retirement for government employees good, say
RETIREMENT AT 55?
LINGAYEN—Could retiring government employees earlier and training them for entrepreneurship generate more employment opportunities?
This was an idea put forward by Provincial Employment and Services Office (PESO) chief Alex Ferrer who has recommended that the optional retirement age for government employees be lowered from the current 60 years old to 55 while the mandatory retirement age from 65 to 60.
“It’s a wild idea, but I think it would be more effective,” said Ferrer during the Social Development Committee (SDC) meeting last August 28.
The SDC — composed of representatives from PESO, Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Health Office (PHO), Population Commission, Department of Education and some non-government organizations – met to assess goals and ensure that these are in line with Governor Amado Espino’s priority plans on poverty reduction,
Ferrer explained that his recommendation will have an employment-multiplier effect.
“At the age of 55 na optional… pag nag-retire ‘yan, ma-aabsorb ngayon ‘yong mga new Civil Service passers, at ‘yong 55 years old medyo malakas pa yan na magpundar ng negosyo. Most likely magsa-succeed siya dahil may capital na siya, marami na siyang koneksyon, marami na syang natutunan sa buhay, iti-train na lang ng konti sa business and entrepreneurship. Kapag nag-succeed ‘yan, magge-generate na naman ng employment yan,” he said.
Ferrer also noted that the health condition of people nowadays seem to deteriorate earlier than previous generations.
JOB FAIR
Meanwhile, Ferrer reported an increase in the employment rate in the province in the last quarter, with the manufacturing industry as the top employment-generator.
At the same time, he said there is a currently a shortage of skilled construction workers such as masons, carpenters, electricians, plumbers which.
A job fair was held August 30 in Asingan and another is scheduled on September 2 at the St. John’s Cathedral, Dagupan City.–Johanne R. Macob
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