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Retirement blues

 



It was a time when there were few industries. The tin mines and rubber estates were the only avenues for employment, as industries had not sufficiently developed to be able to engage employees. The Government was the largest employer capable of engaging workers. The Government had an unfair advantage in attracting workers. Their wages were reasonable and there was security of tenure and at the end of the service, there is a retirement benefit by way of pension which could amount to almost half the wages the employee earned whilst in employment. 


Industries then were more of the cottage type engaging one or two workers at the most. They were usually related to making or repairing equipment that was needed in the production of rubber or mining related industries. Workers in these industries largely had no retirement age and could continue working as long as they were able and fit to work. There was nothing to look forward to on retirement as Employees Provident Fund and social security systems had not been introduced yet. Hence employees who found themselves retired be cause they could no longer work  or their employers were no longer able to engage them, were left to their own devices. 


Some with skills that were  in demand would find employment in related industries that had a need for workers with much needed skills. Once they retired they would find themselves unemployed if there was no need for workers with their skills or no skills. 


Employers preferred younger workers who could work in demanding jobs and rejected old timers especially those with no skills. The labour laws of the country were also primitive and did not afford any protection to workers who were victimised because of old age or ill health. Workers were left to their own devices for survival. They were fortunate if they had children of employable age who were able and willing to support their aged parents. In the absence of an alternative they  were compelled to be placed in Old Folks Homes run by the Government or the Community. Those who lived on the fringes of estates usually ended up as squatters growing vegetables on any spare land available. 



All contents (c) Ganapathy Ramasamy, mynameisgana@blogspot.com


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