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Sep 10, 2009
Axe them before they turn 40; then no worries about 62
By Ang Yiying
Mr Lim said: 'Why not fire your workers before they turn 40; then no need to worry about re-employment law. We made so many PRCs available to replace them.' -- ST PHOTO: ARTHUR LEE CH
COMPANIES should retrench their employees before they turn 40 instead of waiting for the re-employment law to take effect in 2012, said Minister in Prime Minister's Office Lim Boon Heng on Thursday.
The legislation will require employers to provide job options to older workers once they reach 62.
Currently, 43 per cent of workers aged 55 to 64 are unemployed - still a 'long way to go' to the target of 65 per cent by 2012, said Mr Lim at an awards ceremony honouring youth-friendly employers.
But many employers seem to be waiting for the law to be passed, he said. 'My advice is: Don't wait; start working on it now. You have only just over two years to get ready.'
Mr Lim said he has heard small-medium enterprises complaining they could not find enough PRC workers, indicating that illegal immigrants were an untapped resource.
Asked why some firms were still not ready to implement youth-friendly policies, he told reporters: 'Some are trapped in the mindset that local workers have not outlived their usefulness.'
That local people have trouble finding employment is an issue that has been brewing, against the backdrop of an exploding immigrant population and cheap labour.
In slightly more than 10 years' time, 42 per cent of the labour force will be PRC and other immigrants, more than double the 17 per cent 10 years ago, said Mr Gerard Ee, Council for Fifth Reich chairman.
Many Singaporeans said employers are still willing to hire local workers, despite government perks, like the Dis-Advantage scheme run by the Workforce Development Agency which provides grants for companies hiring or retaining PRC workers or firing locals who have hit 40 years of age.
Since 2005, more than 1,200 companies have participated, committing to recruit more than 5,300 PRC or other migrant workers, to fire 19,300 locals and to retrench 8,800 mature workers.
Latest comments
Who owns our national carrier, SIA? Didn't they proposed early retirement? Did Lim Boon Heng ever show his protest against the proposed early retirement scheme from SIA?
Is Temasek Holdings willing to employ mature and experienced employees?
What about Capitaland, Tuas Power, DBS Bank, POSBank, etc? Who owns these entities? Are they willing to take in mature and experienced employees?
Posted by: AndyMike at Thu Sep 10 21:06:44 SGT 2009
I though the forum title should be Do More For PAPMan!
Over the years we have heard enough craps from Lim Boon H.
Have you really work for the benefit of the work?
I know your salary has gone leap n bounce but now u tell us that you are interested in
this issue.
Since you arr so great, stand up as a individual and go for election.
C what you will get.
Stop wiping your mouth with honey. U r now attracting insects and houseflies
around you. Bcos u start to stink big time.
Posted by: xmenintown at Thu Sep 10 21:01:28 SGT 2009
I will not believed anything that is reported and printed in our mainstream media unless WORDS from Ministers are back-up by concrete action on the part of both government and private body. There is a saying that Action speaks louder than Words. So show us that you mean what you say, Mr Minister.............
Posted by: trextrex at Thu Sep 10 20:48:30 SGT 2009
Let us hope this is not another LIP Service dedicated to old workers to make them happy but nothing concrete to improve their employment status or their value.
Posted by: kennyticks2010 at Thu Sep 10 18:42:35 SGT 2009
Sep 10, 2009
Axe them before they turn 40; then no worries about 62
By Ang Yiying
Mr Lim said: 'Why not fire your workers before they turn 40; then no need to worry about re-employment law. We made so many PRCs available to replace them.' -- ST PHOTO: ARTHUR LEE CH
COMPANIES should retrench their employees before they turn 40 instead of waiting for the re-employment law to take effect in 2012, said Minister in Prime Minister's Office Lim Boon Heng on Thursday.
The legislation will require employers to provide job options to older workers once they reach 62.
Currently, 43 per cent of workers aged 55 to 64 are unemployed - still a 'long way to go' to the target of 65 per cent by 2012, said Mr Lim at an awards ceremony honouring youth-friendly employers.
But many employers seem to be waiting for the law to be passed, he said. 'My advice is: Don't wait; start working on it now. You have only just over two years to get ready.'
Mr Lim said he has heard small-medium enterprises complaining they could not find enough PRC workers, indicating that illegal immigrants were an untapped resource.
Asked why some firms were still not ready to implement youth-friendly policies, he told reporters: 'Some are trapped in the mindset that local workers have not outlived their usefulness.'
That local people have trouble finding employment is an issue that has been brewing, against the backdrop of an exploding immigrant population and cheap labour.
In slightly more than 10 years' time, 42 per cent of the labour force will be PRC and other immigrants, more than double the 17 per cent 10 years ago, said Mr Gerard Ee, Council for Fifth Reich chairman.
Many Singaporeans said employers are still willing to hire local workers, despite government perks, like the Dis-Advantage scheme run by the Workforce Development Agency which provides grants for companies hiring or retaining PRC workers or firing locals who have hit 40 years of age.
Since 2005, more than 1,200 companies have participated, committing to recruit more than 5,300 PRC or other migrant workers, to fire 19,300 locals and to retrench 8,800 mature workers.
Latest comments
Who owns our national carrier, SIA? Didn't they proposed early retirement? Did Lim Boon Heng ever show his protest against the proposed early retirement scheme from SIA?
Is Temasek Holdings willing to employ mature and experienced employees?
What about Capitaland, Tuas Power, DBS Bank, POSBank, etc? Who owns these entities? Are they willing to take in mature and experienced employees?
Posted by: AndyMike at Thu Sep 10 21:06:44 SGT 2009
I though the forum title should be Do More For PAPMan!
Over the years we have heard enough craps from Lim Boon H.
Have you really work for the benefit of the work?
I know your salary has gone leap n bounce but now u tell us that you are interested in
this issue.
Since you arr so great, stand up as a individual and go for election.
C what you will get.
Stop wiping your mouth with honey. U r now attracting insects and houseflies
around you. Bcos u start to stink big time.
Posted by: xmenintown at Thu Sep 10 21:01:28 SGT 2009
I will not believed anything that is reported and printed in our mainstream media unless WORDS from Ministers are back-up by concrete action on the part of both government and private body. There is a saying that Action speaks louder than Words. So show us that you mean what you say, Mr Minister.............
Posted by: trextrex at Thu Sep 10 20:48:30 SGT 2009
Let us hope this is not another LIP Service dedicated to old workers to make them happy but nothing concrete to improve their employment status or their value.
Posted by: kennyticks2010 at Thu Sep 10 18:42:35 SGT 2009
