Drop in retirement age part of restructure plans: A-G

The reduction of the retirement age for workers of Municipal Councils from 60 years to 55 is part of the restructure of the Ministry of Local Government.

That was the response by Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, when Opposition MP Biman Prasad suggested that government withdraw the Bill to amend the Local Government Act of 1972.

However, the Bill was passed after much opposition.

Mr Prasad said the amendment was ludicrous because most people would be affected by it. He said they had information that about 150 workers from municipal councils within the Central Division would be affected. Mr Prasad questioned why the change was being brought to local government level because many council workers were low paid.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the ministry was trying to modernise the municipal councils, which would lead to higher pay rises.