No chance of a job, for she's above 60
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Mar 5, 2011 - ST Forum
I AM also a job-seeking senior citizen ('They too need help' by Mr Tham Siong Tuck; Feb 24). I have applied without success for secretarial and administrative positions for a year.
I have sought assistance from the Central Singapore Community Development Council, Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), unions and employment agencies, dutifully answered ads in the Internet classifieds daily and attended many job fairs.
Upon learning my age, most, if not all, agencies and employers lose interest immediately.
My second visit to e2i was particularly disappointing. The officer who interviewed me told me that even if I was hired, I would have to quit soon as I was close to the retirement age.
When I replied that the Government was encouraging companies to hire seniors, her response was that the posts I was interested in were more suited for younger people.
At the community development council, the work available for seniors were in sales, front-line customer service or as carpark attendants.
I would have thought that agencies would leverage on my substantial secretarial and administrative experience; and I don't think that once I turned 60, some switch would turn off all that experience, rendering me fit for only non-office jobs.
The stereotyping by prospective employers that I have been subjected to just because I am above 60 is contradictory to the Government's call for able-bodied seniors to continue working, and is extremely discouraging. One heeds the Government's call, but it is not backed up by action on the part of employers.
I hope employers will not prejudge applicants because of their age.
Irene Tan (Madam)
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welcome to the world of the elderly.
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60 year old and still need to find work....something is wrong right? lol.
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have children been doing their duty right?
and poor families who have sick, handicapped or retarded children....really requires social attention and urgent help....these parents are really sad....some close to 70...having to struggle for their childrens' survival.....
we have seen them in fast food restaurants, cleaning, security, dragging heavy carton boxes...some struggled on and refused help as if its against their dignity to work on than to live as burden
these phenomenon will be here to stay for as long as our country progresses.....
they need a job
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Mar 9, 2011 - ST Forum
Bosses hold the key to employing seniors
I EMPATHISE with the plight and frustration of Madam Irene Tan ('No chance of a job, for she's above 60'; last Saturday).
The Government can only make proposals but cannot enforce them as this would be deemed to be interfering with free enterprise. This places the ball in the employers' court.
Employers can give 1,001 reasons for not hiring a senior citizen when they have a pool of younger workers and cheaper foreign workers to hire from.
As long as this situation exists, the call to employ senior citizens who are physically and mentally fit, and experienced, will just be a voice in the wilderness.
Ralph S. Lesslar
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All the govt talk comes to nothing IF
1. Agencies only look for young pple.
2. Employers still prefer young, cheap and can multi-tasks.
3. Employers and agencies look for foreigners.
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Deal with it. Age discrimination happens everywhere in the world. Once you're 50 everyone looks at you like you're drawing a salary too large for a stubborn mountain tortoise with too many ailments and commitments outside work.
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Originally posted by Rock^Star:
60 year old and still need to find work....something is wrong right? lol.
Yeah, funny how come nobody wants to asks these kinds of questions.
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Originally posted by charlize:
Yeah, funny how come nobody wants to asks these kinds of questions.
they are told not to retire and can't afford one.
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What happened to playing with your grandkids and taking morning strolls with your spouse to enjoy the fresh air at Botanic Gardens after retirement?
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Originally posted by charlize:
What happened to playing with your grandkids and taking morning strolls with your spouse to enjoy the fresh air at Botanic Gardens after retirement?
if you get enough cpf.
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at that age,time to retire or have her own business that she should have setup in her 30s or 40s. or 50s even.
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Originally posted by charlize:
What happened to playing with your grandkids and taking morning strolls with your spouse to enjoy the fresh air at Botanic Gardens after retirement?
that's for weaklings from developed countries. -
Originally posted by Rock^Star:
60 year old and still need to find work....something is wrong right? lol.
Maybe some people actually want to continue working and keep their minds sharp? Is there nothing wrong with that? Is "enjoying" retirement a must?
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Originally posted by Kuali Baba:
Deal with it. Age discrimination happens everywhere in the world. Once you're 50 everyone looks at you like you're drawing a salary too large for a stubborn mountain tortoise with too many ailments and commitments outside work.
quite honestly, there are many in that age group who really cannot pull their load at the workplace and keep conveniently falling on old age as an excuse. this can result in resentment amongst colleagues who have to make up for shortfall.so to be employable past a certain age, people are just going to have to take better care of their health and be a heck of a lot more willing to learn new things and be flexible.
there are already some people in my workplace who are:
1. unable to climb stairs
2. poor eyesight
3. unable to carry anything remotely heavy
4. extremely hard of hearing
5. can't remember things
the list goes on.
and they love to use age as an excuse. If I were an employer I wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole either.
Note: not all are like that. Some are extremely capable. These type will have no problems anywhere.
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everyone will grow old.
you might be describing yourself.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
everyone will grow old.
you might be describing yourself.
people age differently depending on their individual lifestyle habits and some environmental factors.
there are 80 year olds running marathons and there are also 80 year olds sitting on wheelchairs in nursing homes.
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Originally posted by av98m:
people age differently depending on their individual lifestyle habits and some environmental factors.
there are 80 year olds running marathons and there are also 80 year olds sitting on wheelchairs in nursing homes.
one never know what is old age until they are there.
compassion.
ps: I'm a 78 yr old man.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
one never know what is old age until they are there.
compassion.
I have compassion. I am losing my hair and my remaining hair is partially white. Got wrinkles somemore. -
Originally posted by av98m:
I have compassion. I am losing my hair and my remaining hair is partially white. Got wrinkles somemore.wow
so old.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
wow
so old.
Being socially resposnsible, I shave my head. combovers are so unsightly. -
Originally posted by av98m:
Being socially resposnsible, I shave my head. combovers are so unsightly.your choice.
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Originally posted by Kuali Baba:
Maybe some people actually want to continue working and keep their minds sharp? Is there nothing wrong with that? Is "enjoying" retirement a must?
Continue working past 60 in the job you enjoy....why not? Continue working in tough menial jobs to earn a living...something is wrong.
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Originally posted by Rock^Star:
Continue working past 60 in the job you enjoy....why not? Continue working in tough menial jobs to earn a living...something is wrong.
Nothing wrong with working in tough menial jobs to earning a living.
Work past 60s and doing tough menial jobs.
This prove that our nation is strong.
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We need to be cheaper, better and faster.
We need spurs on our hides.
I don't care if you are 60, 80 or 99 years old.