Govt set to raise age limits for job entry, retirement

The government is set to increase the maximum age limits for both entry and retirement from government jobs.
The maximum age for entering government jobs might be 35 for males while 37 for females. The retirement age is likely to be extended to 61 or 63.
A recent review committee report submitted by former Senior Secretary Dr Muyeed Chowdhury placed the recommendations on Thursday.
Talking to the FE, former bureaucrats have hailed the proposals considering the increase of average life expectancy at birth and also shrinkage of job opening in the private sector.
Former bureaucrat Moslem Chowdhury welcomed the proposal to align the entry age of civil service with the other neighbouring countries.
"India and Pakistan have maximum age limit upto 35 where government job seekers enjoy four to five attempts to sit in examination," he added.
Mr Chowdhury, however, said even as the age limit  for entering government service increases, the success rate for the participants is always higher between the 25 and 26 age limit.
"Some sense of agility usually develops among the job applicants above 30 due to having multiple responsibilities at this age," he added.
Mr Chowdhury, who is former Comptroller and Auditor General, also found the proposal to increase the retirement age as a positive move as far as the public interest is concerned. The country would benefit from the experiences of skilled civil service officers, he said.
Responding to a question whether the promotions of civil services would be delayed, he acknowledged the challenges.
Former senior Secretary Dr Mahbub Ahmed, however, said it would not leave any major impact as the service holders waiting for promotion would also enjoy an extended time for their retirement from jobs.
"It is a time befitting step as many job candidates could not apply for jobs for two-three years due to the Covid situation. Also there is no mass job opening in private sector too," he added.
Increasing the age limit for entering government jobs would also help curb unhealthy and unholy practices of lobbying for promotions, he added.
Currently, the maximum age limit for entering civil service is 30 while it is 32 for children of freedom fighters.
Following demands of students, the interim government formed the review committee on September 30.
A group of job seekers had long been advocating an increase in the age limit to 35 years.
Following the recent political changeover, students held several demonstrations. Several hundred job seekers gathered at Shahbag and eventually staged a sit-in in front of the Chief Advisor's residence for it.
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