Labor groups rejected House Bill 3220 which lifts the mandatory retirement age, warning of its consequences for the workforce.
Employees and new labor entrants will face fewer job opportunities while the senior citizens would be deprive of time to enjoy their senior years, should Congress pass House Bill No. 3220 scrapping the mandatory retirement age according to labor groups.
The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) and the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) rejected this measure because of its consequences for the workforce.
FFW President Sonny Matula (who ran for senator last May) stated that the bill will delay the turnover in the labor force. Consequently, this will make it more difficult for new jobseekers to find employment opportunities.
“More workers will remain in the workforce. More people will have no work unless the economic development will not be able to keep up [with the demand],” Matula told Business Mirror.
SENTRO Secretary-General Joshua T. Mata also stated that this bill will prevent senior citizens from enjoying their twilight years as this will also encourage employers to coerce their employees to work beyond 65 years old.
Collective negotiation
“People could negotiate collectively with their employer if they want to set their retirement age earlier or even beyond 65,” Mata said as he thinks the bill is unnecessary.
He also added that the government should consider how to help the senior citizens get ready and enjoy their retirement instead of trying to prolong employment.
“Before we even tinker with the retirement law, let’s first ensure that everyone gets the proper retirement package that we all deserve,” Mata said addingthat “we believe that if given proper retirement benefits, most workers would prefer to retire early.”
But Senior Citizen party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes Jr. filed the bill to compliment the Anti-Age Discrimination Law which puts an age ceiling for job vacancies. He said that House Bill No. 3220 will make senior citizens more productive.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that they will study the bill first before saying anything on the matter.
DOLE Secretary Bievenido E. Laguesma said he wants to determine if the bill will contradict any existing labor laws and see if it could actually benefit the senior citizens by providing them an extended career.
“Because of advances in technology and science, those who are 70 [years old] could continue to work,” Laguesma said in a radio interview last Wednesday. “It is not a simple thing, where we should immediately have a conclusion. We should consider studying the proposed legislation,”
Tags: #Job, #SeniorCitizens, #DOLE, #agelimits