Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma recently said in a radio interview that as far as the proposal to remove the mandatory retirement age, a thorough study must be done before government can give the go-signal.
“For us in the DOLE, we want to study this thoroughly. This is not a simple matter that should be decided immediately. We need careful study of that kind of proposal,” he said, citing the need to weigh its advantages and disadvantages. He added that there could also be existing laws that run contrary to the proposal.
In addition, Civil Service Commission Commissioner Aileen Lizada also echoed the need to study the proposed House bill seeking to remove the 65 years old mandatory age of retirement, at least in terms of its application to government service.
“If you lift the mandatory age of retirement, you have to consult GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) on this. Because you’re talking about the fund life of GSIS,” Lizada told CNN’s “The Source.”
Under proposed House Bill 3220, filed by Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes Jr., an employee who reaches 65 years “can choose to continue” his or her employment provided that the senior citizen “qualifies under the bona fide occupational qualifications of (his or her) job.” It also states that the burden to prove that the worker is no longer capable rests with the employer.
The measure, if approved, will repeal a provision in the Labor Code that sets the compulsory retirement age at 65 years.
As advances in healthcare and technology have allowed life expectancies to increase, we can also assume that the productive window for humans has also expanded, which makes the proposal to remove the mandatory retirement age of 65 worth considering. However, such a proposal certainly requires a thorough review as the impacts to both employees and employers could be significant. Simply getting rid of it will not be enough so the proper safeguards and measures will need to be established if we are going to embark on this new paradigm. All government agencies and entities involved must work together to find the best solution to this particular question whose time has come.*
