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PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) says it rejects any proposal to give employees the option to retire at the age of 65 because it will affect employment opportunities for youths.

MEF president Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the current retirement age of 60 was appropriate.

He added that extending the retirement age to 65 could also see an increase in the number of unemployed youths.

According to Syed Hussain, if youths have difficulty in getting jobs, the nation could suffer from the decrease in human capital in the future.

“The country does not have any deficit of talent that justifies allowing those aged 60 and above to continue working.

“The proposal to grant employees aged 60 and above permanent employment instead of contractual work is inappropriate because it is the industry’s right to determine (employment) based on their requirements,” he said.

He also said employers have no problems allowing employees to serve longer if their work requires a specific expertise.

“This can be done based on an agreement with the two parties based on the employee’s medical report,” Syed Hussain said responding to the Social Protection Contributors Advisory Association Malaysia (SPCAAM), who urged that employees be given the option to retire at 60 or 65 years old.

The NGO made the proposal in light of the fact that human life expectancy is now longer when compared to the past.

They pointed out that international labour adviser Callistus Antony D’Angelus reported that Malaysia is heading for a serious socioeconomic crisis, particularly for retirees and those about to retire.

This follows an EPF report stating that 51.5% of its members below the age of 55 have less than RM10,000 in savings.

Previously, the World Bank’s country manager for Malaysia, Yasuhiko Matsuda, advised Putrajaya to review its retirement age policy, following Malaysia’s status as a potential ageing society in the future.

However, a few unions including the Malaysian Trades Union Congress and Cuepacs do not see a need to urge the government to increase the current retirement age.

Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/04/10/more-jobless-youths-if-retirement-age-increased-says-mef/