Singapore: Seniors Group Calls for Legislation Raising Re-Hiring Age to 67

According to news reports, the PAP Seniors Group (PAP.SG)—the seniors advocacy arm of the People's Action Party (PAP)—has submitted a position paper to Singapore's Ministry of Manpower, calling for legislation to increase the rehiring age for older workers from 65 to 67.

PAP.SG believes that while past legislative changes in the employment of older workers, coupled with the government grants and incentives, have helped older workers aged 55 to 64 years, he Government's plan to roll out incentives next year to coax more employers to raise the reemployement age to 67 is unlikely to be as effective as making it the law, especially in non-unionized sectors, where most workers are employed.

Sources: AsiaOne "PAP.SG calls for legislation to raise rehiring age for older workers" (November 18, 2014); Straits Times "Make it a law for firms to lift re-employment age from 65 to 67: PAP Seniors Group" (November 18, 2014)

Connecticut: Legislative Panel Issues Report on Reemployment Challenges of Older Workers

The Connecticut General Assembly's Office of Program Review and Investigations has issued its finding from its study of the challenges facing older unemployed workers (ages 50 and older), including the competing demands to have an income while completing needed job-related training. According to the "Staff Findings and Recommendations Highlights," there are many programs and services to assist with the reemployment of unemployed workers, including older workers, but that only a few programs are specifically for older adults. Accordingly, "there is no comprehensive, easily accessible way for unemployed residents to find out about these resources." Looking at existing programs overall, programs with an on-the-job-training component had a higher reemployment rate of 74% compared with 50% for programs without the component.

The report made several recommendations, including:

• Prohibit potential employers from publishing job vacancy advertisements that discriminate against the long-term unemployed.
• Develop summary sheets and informational campaigns to inform job seekers of the resources available, address misperceptions about the state's apprenticeship program, and publicize the advantages of hiring older workers.
• The CTWorks Career Centers should consider requirement of a professional resume writer credential and expansion of online learning.

In addition to the report highlights, the full report, as well as an executive summary, are available online. The report has been welcomed by the House Chair of the Program Review and Investigations Committee. Source: Office of Program Review and Investigations Studies: Reemployment of Older Workers (December 18, 2013)

Singapore: Tripartite Guidelines on Re-Employment of Older Employees Released For Public Consultation

Singapore's Minister for Manpower and Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on Employability of Older Workers are inviting public consultation on a new draft Tripartite Guidelines for Re-employment of Older Employees that is aimed at preparing businesses and employees for re-employment legislation come 2012. This is an updated expansion of the advisory issued in April 2008, incorporating feedback from both employers and unions.

Among other things, the draft guidelines provide practical advice on good re-employment practices, including:

• giving employers the flexibility to employ and retain older workers beyond the minimum statutory age of 62;
  
• offering practical solutions to help employers put in place the necessary systems and processes for re-employment, such as pre-retirement planning and re-employment consultation, job arrangements for re-employment, adjustments to wages and benefits, and the offer of employment assistance payment (EAP); and
  
• encouraging older workers who are adaptable and skilled to continue to work and contribute to the society.

The public may provide feedback and views on the draft guidelines via the Consultation Channel in the REACH portal by December 18, 2009. The tripartite partners expect to finalize and release the guidelines early next year. Source: Ministry of Manpower Press Release (November 16, 2009)

Singapore: Working Group Issues Advisory on Reemployment of Older Workers

Singapore's Tripartite Implementation Workgroup (TIWG) has released a Tripartite Advisory on the "Re-employment of Older Workers" to help companies adopt re-employment early, ahead of its legislation by 2012. The Singapore government is committed to enact re-employment legislation by then to enable more people to continue working beyond the current statutory retirement age of 62--initially, up to 65 and, later, up to 67.

The TIWG has drafted an Advisory that identifies good practices in areas such as pre-retirement planning and re-employment consultation, job arrangements upon re-employment and re-employment contract durations. The TIWG is soliciting feedback from companies implementing the Advisory.

Chairman of the TIWG and SNEF Council member Mr Alexander Melchers said, "Re-employment is a new concept for many employers. The advisory is meant to assist them, by offering practical suggestions to implement re-employment in their company."

In addition,

Mr Melchers added, "For re-employment to work, companies need to start reviewing and implementing changes to their HR systems and policies, including performance management and wage structures. Companies should do this as soon as possible, because this is not a process that can be accomplished overnight." He also said the re-employment of older workers was another way to tackle the increasing problem of a lack of skilled labour in Singapore

Sources: Ministry of Manpower Press Release (April 23, 2008); Today Online "For those over 62, the shape that re-employment deal could take: (April 24, 2008)