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MTUC president Syed Sharir Syed Mohamud said
it was only proper for the retirement age to be raised as the life expectancy
of Malaysians had increased.
<P>The largest private sector umbrella union submitted
a memorandum on the matter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
on Friday.</P><P>On Wednesday, Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee
Kah Choon told Parliament that the life expectancy of Malaysians had increased
in the last 50 years.</P><P>Chinese women live up to the age of 78, Indians up
to 75 and Malays up to 74.</P><P>The average life span of Chinese men is 73 years,
Malays 70 and Indians 67.</P><P>Lee said the average life span had increased as
a result of education and better healthcare facilities.</P><P>Sharir said that
as the largest employers in the country, the public sector should take the lead
in raising the retirement age, adding that the private sector, where retirement
age varies, should then follow suit.</P><P>He said this would also bring the retirement
age in Malaysia in line with that of other countries.</P><P>While there is no
mandatory retirement age in Canada, retirement is usually between 60 and 61 years.</P><P>Japan’s
retirement age is 60, and while South Korea’s is the same, there are plans to
raise it.</P><P>In Singapore, the retirement age is 62, while in Thailand and
Indonesia, retirement is between 55 and 60 years.</P><P>Earlier this month, Cuepacs
president Omar Osman had said the civil service would lose out under the current
retirement age as experienced staff, who can still contribute, leave the workforce.</P><P>The
public sector union body was agreeable to the retirement age being increased to
58 or 60.</P>
<P><I>Source: http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=17395</I>
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