MAKAAAPEKTO sa pension fund at budget para sa iba pang benepisyo sa future retirees ang pagbasura sa mandatory retirement age na 65.
Ito ang tugon ni Civil Service Commissioner Aileen Lizada sa hangarin ni Senior Citizens Party-list Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes na tanggalin na ang mandatory age sa pagreretiro ng mga manggagawa sa public at private sector.
Isinusulong ng House Bill (HB) 3220 ni Ordanes na i-repeal ang compulsory age na 65 na itinatakda sa Labor Code of the Philippines.
Isiningit ni Ordanes sa amyenda ang “An employee who reached the age of 65 years old can choose to continue their employment provided that he qualifies under the bona fide occupational qualification of his job, the burden of prove otherwise is with the employer.”
“I believe so…[that] the retirement benefits will be affected,” ayon kay Civil Service Commissioner Aileen Lizada.
“This matter should be thoroughly discussed and evaluated,” dagdag na pahayag nito.
Gayunman, nilinaw ni Lizada, na ang Republic Act 8291, “the mandatory retirement age, allows those older than 65 to continue working in the government provided that they are still capable and are on contract of service status.”
“Let us be clear, the 65 [mandatory retirement age] is for government service. Those in excess of 65 years of age can still continue working if it is a position of confidence such as a consultant or under contract of service,” ani Lizada.
“This [extension] is not considered government service,” aniya pa rin.
At nang magsagawa aniya ang CSC ng konsultasyon kung ano ang dapat na mandatory age of retirement noong 2019, mayorya ang nagpahayag na nais nila na magretiro nang mas maaga sa optional retirement age na 60.
“Ninety-eight to 99 percent of them said they even want lowering the optional retirement age to 56 from 60. Pagod na ho ang tao, burnout na,” ani Lizada. (CHRISTIAN DALE)
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