Retirees can continue to be active in the workforce

PEOPLE above the age of 60 who are still in good health mentally and physically should be accorded jobs they are used to doing but under a contract basis and, of course, offered suitable terms and conditions.

For example, if they had been teachers, they could help by guiding other teachers in ways of handling subjects and students and also step in when there is a shortage of teachers (teacher on call).

Pensioners have a lot of free time so they could form groups of senior professionals in their field. They could offer advice and consultation services and provide help to teach children and adults. No doubt they would be paid less for their services but they won’t be idling away their time or getting sick because they have nothing else to do.

Capable pensioners could also set up places to care for their more elderly seniors to ease the burden of families who are unable to care for them.

Another idea is to set up a community village where senior citizens who are in good health physically and mentally and want to be independent could go to work as part-timers. They could plant vegetables or do other work for the community. Youngsters could be encouraged to visit these community villages to help and spend some time with the elderly folks.

Giving tuition to students could generate income for senior teachers and those who can drive could run errands or send others to hospital appointments.

Creating jobs for support workers like in Britain would also go a long way in keeping those over 60 years of age active. SUZANNE OMAR Shah Alam