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PSA: Workers aged 65 and above increased to 38.2% in June


Workers aged 65 and above increased to 38.2% in June, up from 34.9% in May, according to the latest labor force survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

According to Bernadette Reyes’ “24 Oras” report on Tuesday, based on the latest data a total of 2,538,000 workers aged 65 and above were recorded in June, an increase of 234,000 from 2,304,000 in May.

“I suppose you will be looking for a job, you need to augment your household income to cover the minimum expenditure,” PSA Undersecretary Dennis Mapa said at a press conference.

Under the labor code of the Philippines, the compulsory retirement age in the Philippines is 65 years old.

One worker over 65, Nelda Jimenez, said she is looking for a job because the P200 daily income her husband receives as a barker is not enough for the family.

“Sinusubukan, wala naman tatanggap, isa pa madali na akong mapagod,” Jimenez said.

(I’m trying to look for jobs, but no one is hiring and I get tired easily.)

Lilia Cariño, who retired as a liaison officer last year, said she wants to go back to work.

“Depende ata sa tao yun kung talagang sakitin siya. Nasa tao rin yun, wala sa edad. Kasi may bata sakitin din eh. Basta kaya ng katawan, payagan dahil sa hirap ng buhay ngayon,” Cariño said.

(It depends on the person whether they are sickly, not on the age because a younger person can also get sick. As long as the body can work, we should be allowed to work because life is hard these days.)

Senior Citizens party-list Representative Rodolfo Ordanes Jr. has filed House Bill 3220, which proposes to amend the Labor Code by adding a provision that “an employee who reached the age of 65 years can choose to continue their employment provided that he qualifies under the bona fide occupational qualifications of his job." 

Ordanes said his proposal is a progression from the Anti-Age Discrimination Law earlier passed, a measure which has enabled many seniors to continue working.

According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), many older people are still capable of working.

“Society has opened up opportunities for the age old members of the population, that is what we should do because you know 65 years old, 70 years old, they are still very productive members of our society,” NEDA secretary general and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

“They can remain productive. So our society should keep open the possibilities for them,” Balisacan said at the same press conference.

The NEDA said the purpose of the government's economic programs is to create more jobs for Filipinos in order to alleviate poverty. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA News

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