RETIRED senior citizens who had led an active lifestyle during their working life tend to rapidly deteriorate in health without meaningful activities and due to the depressing effects of having to cope with an often drastically reduced income. They soon become a drain on the country’s health resources.

Many such retirees are capable of continuing to work for another 10 or more years after retirement, as well as remaining an asset to the country as taxpayers.

However, such people are often refused employment due to employers’ prejudice against hiring anyone above the retirement age.

This mental block and blanket prejudice of employers against employing retirees who are capable of working efficiently has to change.

The government should make it mandatory for employers to have five per cent of their work force reserved for senior citizens.

The National Council of Senior Citizens’ Organisations Malaysia (Nascom) can act as a clearing house to match senior citizens in need of jobs and employers wanting to employ senior citizens.

It can build up a database of senior citizens, listing out their qualifications, skills, experiences, job preferences (including part-time or full-time), expected salary, etc.

Employers can contact Nascom with their requirements to find a match from its database. Such vacancies can also be posted on the Nascom website.

M. GANESHADEVA, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – July 22, 2008