In the past two years, about 98 per cent of professionals and technicians in Singapore have been re-employed

On 2 July 2024, Singapore's Minister for Manpower, Dr Tan Sze Loong, replied in writing to a question from MP Yim Yin Chung on the re-employment rate of PMET reaching the statutory retirement age in Parliament.

The following is translated by the Singapore Eye based on the English language of the National Assembly:

Mr Yim Yin Chung (Aljunied GRC MP) asked the Minister for Manpower that in the past five years: (a) how many resident professionals, managers, executives and technical personnel (PMEs) applied for and were re-employed after reaching the statutory retirement age?

(b) How many did not apply for and were re-employed?

(c) What are the reasons for the employer's refusal to provide re-employment (excluding persons who are unfit for work due to medical reasons)?

(d) Will HRM consider publishing data on PMET rehires who have reached retirement age in its quarterly reports?

(e) If not, why?

Dr Tan Sze Loong (Minister of Manpower): In 2022 and 2023, about 98% of professionals, managers, executives, and technicians (PMEs) were re-employed. Data prior to 2022 is not available as the data is not broken down by PMET and non-PMET. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not collect PMET data on the reasons for non-reemployment. Eighty percent of all senior employees who were not rehired in 2023 do not want to continue working. Other reasons for not being rehired include: lack of suitable vacancies, performance that does not meet performance requirements, or health requirements.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) monitors the re-employment rate of eligible older employees on an annual basis. Since the introduction of the rehire policy in 2012, the rehire rate for eligible older employees has remained high and has not changed much from year to year. If needed, we will consider highlighting notable trends in our annual publications.

The following is the content of the question in English:

RATE OF RE-EMPLOYMENT OF PMETS WHO HAVE REACHED STATUTORY RETIREMENT AGE

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Manpower in each of the last five years (a) how many resident professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) applied for and were offered re-employment upon reaching the statutory retirement age; (b) how many were not; (c) what were the reasons provided by employers for not offering re-employment, excluding those medically unfit to work; (d) whether the Ministry will consider publishing data on re-employment of PMETs reaching the retirement age as part of its quarterly reports; and (e) if not, why not.

Dr Tan See Leng: In 2022 and 2023, about 98% of professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) were offered re-employment. PMET data for the years prior to 2022 is not available, as the data was not broken down by PMET and non-PMET. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not collect PMET-specific data on the reasons why workers are not offered re-employment. Amongst all senior workers who were not offered re-employment in 2023, eight in 10 did not want to continue working. The rest were not offered re-employment either because there was a lack of suitable vacancies, the employees did not meet work performance requirements or they did not meet requirements on medical fitness.

MOM monitors the re-employment rate of eligible seniors annually. The re-employment rate for eligible senior workers has remained consistently high since the introduction of the re-employment policy in 2012 and does not vary much year to year. Where relevant, we will consider highlighting noteworthy trends in our annual publications.

HQ丨Editor

HQ丨Editor

Singapore Parliament丨Source

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