Private companies prodded to hire more senior citizens in enabling bill

CONGRESS was asked to frontload passage of an enabling law expanding equal employment opportunities for physically able elderly citizens, mandating private companies to hire more able elderlies.

In filing the proposed legislation, Senator Joel Villanueva sought to widen job options for hiring senior citizens still physically able to do office work.

“There is a need to provide opportunities for our senior citizens who are still able and willing to obtain gainful employment and wish to continue to become economically active and productive during their golden years,” the senator stressed.

Assuring the enabling law will further “support and promote equal work opportunities for our senior citizens,” Villanueva noted that Senate Bill No. 360 updating Republic Act No. 9994, embodying the expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, mandates the Department of Labor and Employment to “provide a matching and employment facilitation services for senior citizens.”

The lawmaker said the amending legislation, includes:

Increases in the allowable deduction from gross income of private entities that will employ senior citizens as employees from 15 percent to 25 percent of the total amount paid as salaries and wages, as well as trainings provided to senior citizens, in accordance with Section 34 of the National Internal Revenue Code; and,

Removes the provision that the annual income of the senior citizen should not exceed the latest poverty threshold, to encourage employers to hire senior citizens from all walks of life, as long as they are able, willing and qualified to do the job.

The bill, he noted, also provides waiving of fees and charges from a senior citizen jobseeker if such fee or charge is paid in connection with the application for and the granting of licenses, proofs of identification, clearances, certificates, or other documents usually required in the course of employment; and allowing employers the flexibility to grant greater benefits or improve the working conditions and terms of employment of senior citizens beyond the minimum requirements provided under applicable laws.

“Given the foregoing,” Villanueva is confident “this bill will contribute to the benefits of millions of senior citizens who wish to remain economically active and productive.”