Re-fixing the retirement age

Singapore will introduce a new law by 2017 to raise re-employment of older workers up to the age of 67, said Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin. The change means that older employees up to the age 67 would be given the option to continue working.
If we look back to employment history, it will be seen that in the early days of the civil service in British-India, most of the native civil servants were recruited at their age between 18 to 20 years. A government officer could serve 37 years in British-India even after entering the service at 20 years of age. Thereafter, the maximum age limit at entry-level government jobs was increased several times.
Educational qualification was equivalent to matriculate at the beginning. This entry-level age has been re-fixed at maximum 30 years in Bangladesh after several changes in Pakistan as well as in Bangladesh era. At present, for BCS entry-level posts, Masters and equivalent degrees have been fixed as minimum educational qualification, which was only bachelor degree in the last decade.
The retirement age for government officials was re-fixed at 59 years by the present government, which was 57 years before. Of course, two-year increase of retirement age was a progressive decision. An officer of the government can serve only 29 years now even if one joins at maximum 30-year age whereas it was 37 years in British-India era.
Owing to extensive publicity of family planning by the governments, educated youths have opted for late marriage and small family. When they attain the age of 59, they find that their off-springs have not completed education and not started earning. They observed with concern that their daughters are yet to get married, which is a significant responsibility of parents as per social values in Bangladesh.
On the other hand, life expectancy increased to 69 years in 2011, which was 45 years in 1971 owing to better health care service facility and increase of economic status of fellow citizens.
The retirement age of teachers in public universities has been fixed at 65 years. They now play a significant role in society. Again retirement age of the Supreme Court judges has been re-fixed at 67 years by the previous government, which is continuing. It is beyond doubt that a Supreme Court judge plays a very important role in the country. When age 67 is not a bar for playing important role of a judge, why have officers of the government to retire at the age of 59 (eight years before)? Lawyers, physicians and businesspersons are performing beyond age of 59. The prime minister and a few ministers are performing well beyond their age of 68 years. The BNP Chairperson is continuing her position at 69.
After retirement, most government officers live long and have to depend on pension money. If retirement age is extended up to 67 years, their pension life will be reduced by eight years on an average. The exchequer will spend less on account of retirement benefit.
Experience has no alternative. Both the nation as well as officers will gain in case of a rise in retirement age.
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