KUALA LUMPUR: Employees of Singapore's National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) will be able to work until the age of 64, and if eligible and willing, can be re-employed until 69 beginning Jan 1 next year.
A Straits Times report said the NTUC announced yesterday that these changes to the retirement and re-employment ages comes ahead of the national timeline and were part of its commitment to promoting age-inclusive employment practices.
Since 2022, the retirement age at NTUC has been 63, and the re-employment age has been 68.
The Singaporean government's national plan, announced in 2019, aims to gradually raise the retirement age to 65 and the re-employment age to 70 by 2030.
The retirement age will be raised from 63 to 64 on July 1, 2026.
The country's Public Service Division also intends to raise these limits to 64 and 69 by July 1 next year, one year ahead of the national schedule.
NTUC has now increased these ages ahead of the national timeline for the second time, having previously raised the retirement age to 63 and the re-employment age to 68 in 2021.
NTUC engages employees nearing retirement early, discussing re-employment options and offering targeted training to help them remain relevant in the workforce.
Re-employed workers maintain their benefits and salary, except in cases of mutually agreed job scope changes.
Additionally, NTUC offers job redesign, flexible work arrangements, and tailored learning opportunities to support older employees' continued contributions.
It currently employs more than 2,350 workers aged 63 and above, across various businesses, including FairPrice Group, Income Insurance, NTUC First Campus, NTUC Health, and NTUC LearningHub.
The changes will benefit approximately 448 employees affected by the retirement age increase and about 270 by the re-employment age rise.
NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng highlighted the organisation's commitment to providing older workers with meaningful employment opportunities.
He emphasised the value of their experience and resilience in driving Singapore's economy forward and fostering a stronger workforce.
The labour movement said it will continue advocating for older workers, ensuring equal access to training and job redesign to help them remain competitive in an evolving job market.
Sarminah Tamsir, a 62-year-old manager at NTUC, praised the changes, noting the opportunities she has had over the past 15 years to grow across different roles and departments.
She is now considering a redesigned role that suits her needs, marking a new chapter in her career with them.