Starting next year, all eligible officers from the public sector will be offered re-employment up till the age of 67. Some 800 public officers, who turn 65 years old next year, will be the first batch of citizens to benefit from the modification.
Eligible officers, who wish to continue working, can do so on the same job with the same pay and benefits, under the circumstance that the job is available. Otherwise, agencies will assist them in finding other suitable jobs within or outside their agency. “If no jobs are available, agencies will offer a payment to help them make the adjustment while they look for another job,” Public Service Division added.
Currently, 65-years-old is the re-employment age limit for public officers. The authorised retirement age is 62-years-old.
The Public Service, one of Singapore’s largest employers with 139,000 officers, will spearhead the revised guidelines. The decision to extend the re-employment age has gone through discussions with the ministries, statutory boards and public sector unions.
Today, various public agencies are already re-employing officers beyond the age of 65 by choice. There are currently 1000 public officers re-employed over the age of 65.
Sounds dandy, but let’s hope this was effected to allow those who enjoy working to carry on their career legacy, and not as a standby for folks not financially ready for retirement.
Because that would be just sad.
