NEDA Backs Removal Of Mandatory Retirement Age
“Old guys like me can also be trained in digital,” National Economic Development Authority director general and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan is backing a proposed measure that aims to remove the mandatory retirement age of 65 years.
Asked if he supports the abolition of the mandatory retirement age during the press conference for the second quarter economic performance on Tuesday, Aug. 9, Balisacan said practices and regulations would have to evolve with the changing times.
He said life expectancy is increasing in many societies, including in the Philippines.
He also said those who are 65 to 70 years old are still productive and could remain productive.
“So our society should keep open the possibilities for them,” he said.
For the National Economic and Development Authority chief, opportunities for these individuals would depend on their education and competencies.
He believes these individuals could still get training in digital work.
“Old guys like me can also be trained in digital,” he said.
“I think the trick here is just open up the possibilities and let people choose what is best, the best fit for them,” he said further.
He said some would like to go farming, while there are some who want to teach in the university.
House Bill No. 3220 filed by Senior Citizen party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes Jr., seeks to amend the Labor Code by allowing an employee who reaches the age of 65 to choose to continue employment, provided the individual qualifies under the bona fide occupational qualifications of the job.
Under the bill, the burden to prove the worker can no longer work rests with the employer.
For Ordanes, many senior citizens above 65 years are still in good health and could continue to serve as assets to organizations and companies.
During an interview with “The Chiefs” aired over One News on Monday night, Aug. 8, assistant national statistician Wilma Guillen said that as of June, there are 11,000 individuals who are 65 years and older who are looking for work, available for work and have no work.
“More are not in the labor force. This is around 2.683 million as of June 2022,” she added.
