Rapidly aging Thailand tells businesses to hire more elderly

[webfact]

Rapidly aging Thailand tells businesses to hire more elderly
BY PAIRAT TEMPHAIROJANA

BANGKOK: -- Pornsak Bowornsrisuk pulls an umbrella towards him to shield his head of thick gray hair from the blazing sunshine at the Bangkok bus terminal he manages.

"You've got to be damned tough to do this job," says the 63-year-old, who records bus arrivals and departures, and tots up fares collected from journeys across Thailand's capital.

Septuagenarian bus conductor Pranom Chartyothin moves nimbly to a door to guide students off the vehicle. She waves at the driver, 66-year-old Plang Pansaior, who glances in his rear view mirror before pulling away.

Full story: http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-population-idUKKCN0VJ0CJ


-- Reuters 2016-02-11

[trogers]

Most businesses place an age limit of 35 on job applicants and then lament that their staff don't stay long.

[Fookhaht]

Major paradigm shift for the country, if it happens.

Typical job ad in Bangkok Post for a secretary: "female, 21-26 years old, attractive," etc.

For six years, I've been told I was too old to get another contract (I'm 65), albeit I still keep getting one. I appreciate the contract, but am continually reminded that older age is not seen as a positive thing in the work force.

[MaeJoMTB]

^^

If you still work after age 60, it's a good indication you have poor money management and planning abilities.

And if you still work because you can't think of anything else to do with your time ..... even worse.

OK if you're a shelf stacker I suppose.

Edited February 11, 2016 by MaeJoMTB

[AlQaholic]

I recently took a look at the population pyramid for Thailand, and was rather surprised at the inverted shape of it, like an inverted step pyramid. Traditionally for a developing country it should be a normal pyramid form.

Then I compared with Sweden which when I was young was a perfect inverted pyramid, now there are a baby boom apparently, and I guess it's because of the influx of people of baby producing ethnicity. on the other hand my Swedish Sister's two sons in Sweden both have 2 children each.

Edited February 11, 2016 by AlQaholic

[Caveat Emptor]

BBC World TV is covering this story and one of the older workers interviewed said younger workers didn't like to work hard and weren't very responsible !

Hard to believe isn't it ? ?

Another plus for older workers is that they probably don't spend so much time on their phones.

[selftaopath]

Most businesses place an age limit of 35 on job applicants and then lament that their staff don't stay long.

True... and along with attractiveness/ weight etc. Seems that little concern is on education/experience/ability etc. Phew.... no wonder Thailand is falling farther and farther behind other nations.

[dashdashdot]

^^

If you still work after age 60, it's a good indication you have poor money management and planning abilities.

And if you still work because you can't think of anything else to do with your time ..... even worse.

OK if you're a shelf stacker I suppose.

555 love my job, guess you don't

[Pib]

^^

If you still work after age 60, it's a good indication you have poor money management and planning abilities.

And if you still work because you can't think of anything else to do with your time ..... even worse.

OK if you're a shelf stacker I suppose.

Regarding still working after age 60 maybe that's true for western countries but not for 3d world nations like Thailand. Seems in Thailand there is a general stigma or employer resistance against working pass 60-65 unless you have your own business. Probably because due to lower health conditions in Thailand which causes people to be much less healthy in their golden years (employers don't want weak, feeble, sick employees) and the general attitude that your old age social security/pension is the kids you have to take care of you. Seems to be a much, much bigger parent expectation in Thailand that a prime purpose of having kids is having someone to support you in old age because having social security/pension is generally not going to be the case. Birth your social security/pension so to say...but even that attitude is rapidly changing as Thais have less children.

[Reigntax]

Or they could implement an old age pension system so that 70 and 80 year olds who havent received all the benefits of a government job, dont have to work. But thats right, these people havent learnt to vote for the right side yet, so why would the self elected bother!

[dbrenn]

Another brain fart from the Government. It will be ignored by all concerned.

[hansnl]

Quite right, above 30 and employers are reluctant to hire you.

Woman friend of 40 got laid off when a new mayor came into function to be replaced with family members of the newly minted mayor. Five years later, after several temp jobs, she decided she will do anything for a job.

Still no takers.

[Eric Loh]

Thailand should seriously consider rising the retirement age from 55. Life expectancy on the average has increased. Not only is there a strain on the pension expenditure, we are also losing experience and skillful older people. Singapore retirement age is 65 while Denmark is 75. Thailand retirement age has not change over the last few decades.

[Kasset Tak]

^^

If you still work after age 60, it's a good indication you have poor money management and planning abilities.

And if you still work because you can't think of anything else to do with your time ..... even worse.

OK if you're a shelf stacker I suppose.

My friend who is 74 is still working because he want to, he still hope that he can help Thailand to a better future. He is currently working as professor in a BKK university and even works extra in the evenings teaching English to the executive staff of Viriya insurance company. He got his master and PhD studying in US (UCLA and CGU), he was MP in the 80's and 90's and one of the first human rights commissioners in Thailand (first Thai to meet Aung San Suu Kyi after she was put under house arrest)... but hey I guess you think he is stupid as he is still working?!

Actually I told him that he is stupid and must start thinking about his age last time we spoke, he was telling me how he has start planing his campaign to run for parliament in the election 2017... he will be 76 by then!!!

[trogers]

Thailand should seriously consider rising the retirement age from 55. Life expectancy on the average has increased. Not only is there a strain on the pension expenditure, we are also losing experience and skillful older people. Singapore retirement age is 65 while Denmark is 75. Thailand retirement age has not change over the last few decades.

With the widespread practice of drink and drive, the retirement age in Thailand should be lowered. Try 49...

[Jeremy50]

^^

If you still work after age 60, it's a good indication you have poor money management and planning abilities.

And if you still work because you can't think of anything else to do with your time ..... even worse.

OK if you're a shelf stacker I suppose.

Many people like to work because of the social environment it provides, especially as they age and friends 'fall away' . No doubt you would see this as being a bit of a loser.

[MaeJoMTB]

Or they could implement an old age pension system so that 70 and 80 year olds who havent received all the benefits of a government job, dont have to work. But thats right, these people havent learnt to vote for the right side yet, so why would the self elected bother!

They already have a pension system for every Thai over age 65.

It's not much at 500bht a month, but you can live on the farm for that.

[MaeJoMTB]

^^

If you still work after age 60, it's a good indication you have poor money management and planning abilities.

And if you still work because you can't think of anything else to do with your time ..... even worse.

OK if you're a shelf stacker I suppose.

Many people like to work because of the social environment it provides, especially as they age and friends 'fall away' . No doubt you would see this as being a bit of a loser.

No, I see it as not being able to think of anything else to do with your time.

People with a decent education, rudimentary social skills and a bit of imagination can usually fill their days to excess.

I've had no problems filling my time since I retired at age 45.

Do people really have to work because they are unable to make friends?

That's really sad.

[elgordo38]

Most businesses place an age limit of 35 on job applicants and then lament that their staff don't stay long.

Your correct my g/f at 26 speaks excellent English and tells me that her job prospects would be dim to nil. She has no university degree but could run the country very efficiently well in my estimation anyways. She has now developed a BS monitor and a in depth reasoning process so few Thai's have. I am proud of her and well myself as well. Businesses hiring today care little of education you receive from the school of life only the scholarly one. Highly educated people have high expectations. Not a good fit no humility. America on the other hand is hiring more and more of the 55 and over crowd. They always show up for work and stick at it for the full day. A lesson learned but there is no adaptability here only a one directional plod. Edited February 11, 2016 by elgordo38

[elgordo38]

Major paradigm shift for the country, if it happens.

Typical job ad in Bangkok Post for a secretary: "female, 21-26 years old, attractive," etc.

For six years, I've been told I was too old to get another contract (I'm 65), albeit I still keep getting one. I appreciate the contract, but am continually reminded that older age is not seen as a positive thing in the work force.

Quote Typical job ad in Bangkok Post for a secretary: "female, 21-26 years old, attractive," etc. unquote. Its obvious this guy wants someone to have lunch with at the local boom boom palace you know the one that rents by the hour with mirrors all over and a rubber sheet that you pull behind your car to hide the license number. Here the thinking is that you do mix business with pleasure. Edited February 11, 2016 by elgordo38

[elgordo38]

I recently took a look at the population pyramid for Thailand, and was rather surprised at the inverted shape of it, like an inverted step pyramid. Traditionally for a developing country it should be a normal pyramid form.

Then I compared with Sweden which when I was young was a perfect inverted pyramid, now there are a baby boom apparently, and I guess it's because of the influx of people of baby producing ethnicity. on the other hand my Swedish Sister's two sons in Sweden both have 2 children each.

Its the old phrase and they went marching 2 by 2. The problem comes at retirement time when only 2 people are paying into your retirement fund when you need at least 7. Game over.

[elgordo38]

^^

If you still work after age 60, it's a good indication you have poor money management and planning abilities.

And if you still work because you can't think of anything else to do with your time ..... even worse.

OK if you're a shelf stacker I suppose.

Regarding still working after age 60 maybe that's true for western countries but not for 3d world nations like Thailand. Seems in Thailand there is a general stigma or employer resistance against working pass 60-65 unless you have your own business. Probably because due to lower health conditions in Thailand which causes people to be much less healthy in their golden years (employers don't want weak, feeble, sick employees) and the general attitude that your old age social security/pension is the kids you have to take care of you. Seems to be a much, much bigger parent expectation in Thailand that a prime purpose of having kids is having someone to support you in old age because having social security/pension is generally not going to be the case. Birth your social security/pension so to say...but even that attitude is rapidly changing as Thais have less children.

Hmmm some trade off. 55 and up that want to work and do a good job vs educated younger know it alls whose only skills are how to work a mobile phone and burn the plastic.

[Fookhaht]

^^

If you still work after age 60, it's a good indication you have poor money management and planning abilities.

And if you still work because you can't think of anything else to do with your time ..... even worse.

OK if you're a shelf stacker I suppose.

Post probably born from a poor work life.

Some people actually enjoy their work.

[sirineou]

^^

If you still work after age 60, it's a good indication you have poor money management and planning abilities.

And if you still work because you can't think of anything else to do with your time ..... even worse.

OK if you're a shelf stacker I suppose.

Post probably born from a poor work life.

Some people actually enjoy their work.

How True

If you are lucky enough to do what you love for a living, you never work a day in your life

[billd766]

Or they could implement an old age pension system so that 70 and 80 year olds who havent received all the benefits of a government job, dont have to work. But thats right, these people havent learnt to vote for the right side yet, so why would the self elected bother!

They already have a pension system for every Thai over age 65.

It's not much at 500bht a month, but you can live on the farm for that.

Do you really believe that people can live, eat 2 or 3 times a day, pay for electricity, get to a hospital or doctor and get essential medicines to keep them alive etc and anything else they need on less than 17 baht per day?

What kind of a world do live in to believe that?

Edited February 12, 2016 by billd766

[trogers]

Or they could implement an old age pension system so that 70 and 80 year olds who havent received all the benefits of a government job, dont have to work. But thats right, these people havent learnt to vote for the right side yet, so why would the self elected bother!

They already have a pension system for every Thai over age 65.

It's not much at 500bht a month, but you can live on the farm for that.

Do you really believe that people can live, eat 2 or 3 times a day, pay for electricity, get to a hospital or doctor and get essential medicines to keep them alive etc and anything else they need on less than 17 baht per day?

What kind of a world do live in to believe that?

Can they do it for USD17 in the States, or the equivalent in the EU?

[greenchair]

^^

If you still work after age 60, it's a good indication you have poor money management and planning abilities.

And if you still work because you can't think of anything else to do with your time ..... even worse.

OK if you're a shelf stacker I suppose.

That is a very insensitive post.

Absolutely no need for that.

[thelonius]

Well Meechai is 78 and he's still working.

On second thoughts, perhaps that wasn't the best example for an argument to employ more elderly people.........................

[jerojero]

How about raising the official retirement age from 60 to 65. And ban age discrimination in the hiring process. So many job ads blatantly deny older workers job opportunities. Funny in a culture that supposedly reveres the elderly, discriminates the very group in job opportunities.

[Fookhaht]

^^

If you still work after age 60, it's a good indication you have poor money management and planning abilities.

And if you still work because you can't think of anything else to do with your time ..... even worse.

OK if you're a shelf stacker I suppose.

That is a very insensitive post.

Absolutely no need for that.

Greenchair: That is a very tactful post.

TV rules call it FLAMING.