Wanita Gerakan supports a call by Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Sharizat Abdul Jalil, in urging private sector employers to retain old and experienced employees as an important step to enhance the country’s competitiveness.

Wanita Gerakan deputy chairman Ng Siew Lai said today that old, good quality, hardworking and experienced workers were definitely more useful and productive in their respective fields.

She said retaining these workers would also help companies save time and effort in having to scout for new recruits to fill the vacancies.

“It is time for the government to devise a comprehensive national policy on Senior citizens that covers re-examining the current retiring age, incentives to retain experienced and skilled senior workforce, life-long learning opportunity, healthcare benefits and other pertinent aspects.

“When we talk about brains or talent gain program, we must not overlook our own precious pool of brainy & talented senior citizens,” Ng added.

“Employers should take into consideration that in today’s rat race and the trend of late marriages, couples who have to retire at the age of 55 would still need to support their children for education,” said Ng, adding that retaining their services would also make their life easier.

Ng said that according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia website, as at July 2 this year, 68.1% of our population are those between 15 and 64 years’ old, meaning most of them are our human resource capital.

“Thus, we should fully utilize them to benefit the country and the people. Also using our own people will also reduce dependence on foreign labour,” she added.

At a forum in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, Sharizat had described old and experienced workers as the nation’s “jewel.”