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Over 50 doesn't mean 'over the hill'
THE Ministry of Manpower’s recent action against 10 firms that placed discriminatory job advertisements (“10 firms slammed for biased job ads”; Sept 26) and the plan for a national jobs bank (“Firms must show they tried to recruit Singaporeans first”; Sept 24) suggest that employers here have not quite fully embraced the Government’s call to not practise discrimination when hiring.
Singapore has an ageing population, and the age factor is one of the more commonly cited frustrations among job seekers. Employers must change their mindset that job seekers above the age of 50 are “over the hill”, and embrace the hiring of older workers. The civil service, being the largest employer in Singapore, must continue to set an example. Only when the majority of employers think and behave in a non-discriminatory manner will Singapore continue to do well economically, and be respected as a country where meritocracy is truly practised.
Legislative measures should be the final resort and be avoided if possible. The labour market must continue to be free. Job seekers, in particular those that have lost their jobs involuntarily, must also acknowledge that they are responsible for their own careers, and do everything they can to stay employable.
Having a job is not the issue, staying employable is. The Government has already done aplenty – the rest is up to the individual.
Article by Paul Heng
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