Older workers bring a wealth of experience and skill to Singapore’s workforce, Workers’ Party MP Sylvia Lim asserted during the Budget 2024 debate on
Older workers bring a wealth of experience and skill to Singapore’s workforce, Workers’ Party MP Sylvia Lim asserted during the Budget 2024 debate on Tuesday (Feb 27). Lim emphasized that despite their capabilities, age discrimination often prevents seniors from re-entering the job market.
Lim shared the story of a man in his 70s with a background in healthcare, who, despite his health and expertise, struggled to find employment due to age bias. The Ministry of Manpower’s Fair Employment Practices report from last year identified age as the most common form of job search discrimination, a concern Lim echoed.
She also noted that Singapore’s job market still has ample openings, with job vacancies outnumbering job seekers, according to MOM’s Labour Market Report for Q3 2023. Yet ageism remains, as highlighted by Singapore University of Social Sciences’ associate professor Helen Ko, who argued that job performance depends more on job demands than age itself.
Lim highlighted the broader societal benefits of engaging seniors in the workforce, adding, “Unemployment among seniors can lead to increased dependence on family, CPF savings, or government aid, potentially worsening social divisions.”
Lim also supported Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s SkillsFuture Level-Up initiative, which offers a $4,000 credit top-up for courses to Singaporeans aged 40 and above. She inquired whether employment conditions would apply for certain sectors to improve employability and whether seniors could use this subsidy for personal enrichment. Lim called for clearer details on the training allowance eligibility under this program.
“Older workers are a national asset that should be valued,” Lim concluded. “With 60 as the new 40, it’s time to end age discrimination and embrace lifelong learning.”
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