SOME may applaud this move. Some may slam it outright. Some may say it’s worth a review as part of successful ageing which requires long-term planning,
There is a serious push to urge the government to hike CPF contribution rate for workers above 55 to 37 per cent to ensure that older workers are paid the same as their younger colleagues.
The People’s Action Party’s (PAP) Seniors Group (PAP,SG) has put up a bold paper to propose that the Central Provident Fund (CPF) contribution rate for workers aged 55 and above be increased to 37%, which is also the rate set for those 55 and below.
On a positive end, the move will reportedly enable older workers to enjoy the same level of CPF contributions regardless of how old they are, help to boost their retirement adequacy and ensure equal pay amongst colleagues doing the same job.
TO BE SELF-RELIANT
“With longer life expectancy and a smaller base of family support, Singaporeans need to be even more self-reliant in securing a stream of lifelong income for retirement,” the group said in its recommendation paper. “This can be done through a combination of mandatory and voluntary CPF contributions, as well as sound financial planning.
It significantly noted in its recommendation paper that workers from age 55 and self-employed workers who do not contribute to their special account, struggle to save enough for retirement.
“It’s an audacious but forward-thinking move to prepare positively for a longer-term ageing era,” says retired principal Josephine Low, 69, of Bukit Merah Lane.
“I’m glad the group is also urging the government to continue strengthening its support for low-income seniors through the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme during their working years, and the Silver Support (SS) scheme to supplement the retirement income of seniors in need.”
Unionist Thomas Jacob, 66, of Telok Kurau Road says he’s impressed the paper is calling for a Tripartite effort wherein employers collaborate with the government to create more suitable job opportunities for older workers across sectors such as transport, logistics and healthcare given that many older workers still want to continue taking on full-time jobs.
DIGITALLY SAVVY
In line with the government’s push for its population to be digitally savvy, the PAP.SG has also recommended that authorities embed seniors’ needs and viewpoints into digital app designs and perhaps considering employing seniors into the app design teams to further facilitate and support their needs.
“Many of our seniors are not averse to information technology, especially since Singapore has been promoting computerisation since the 1980s,” the group noted. “As such, we should carefully curate the services and features that our seniors truly need.”
Very responsibly, the paper outlined how a sizeable number of seniors are at risk of being left behind, and called for action to integrate the older generation with Singapore’s mobile-first generation.
Likewise, the group recommends that the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) accelerate the digital outreach to seniors to cover most of Singapore within the next 12 months, especially through community centres, the national library and Senior Generation Office.
In a nutshell, the paper engages positively: “Getting Singapore prepared for successful ageing requires long-term planning. Ultimately, we must endeavour to be the best place in the world to age in place.”