from w
The next step of the Interim guys in Fiji is to reduce the size of the civil service so they want to make civil servants retire at 55. At present it is 60. There's one good reason in my mind regarding teachers, and that is to give the new graduates a chance to get a job. But on the other hand some teachers, nurses, doctors, administrators at 55 are still doing an excellent job.
Okay, if people want to retire at 55 (and perhaps they do get a small - or - large pension) but some people love their job, and also have on-going financial obligations so that to retire makes their whole life difficult.
Of course some might want to sit and watch the sun rise and the sun set each day as they order round the young ones to do their fetching and carrying!
It is good to change direction about that age - take on voluntary work, community work, farming or gardening, art or music, go back to tertiary studies, or even activism. I'm sure that some of the outspoken men and women in Fiji are near or past 55!
Of course it makes some positions in Fiji look a little odd if 55 is considered your use-by date for a job. Hmmm. The office of the President comes to mind!
They should start with the office of the President then the Prime Minister and his cabinet and work their way down. One rule for all! Retire at 55!
ReplyDeleteYeah. There are double standards when oldies get the leadership/lucrative/status jobs. Okay there may be wisdom coming with age as maturity and experience OUGHT to make men and women mentally fitter, but there is a time to really retire...
ReplyDeletew.
Some people get lost though if they haven't thought about other options beside work, just don't know what to do with their time. There certainly is plenty to do though - volunteer work in the community for a starter.
Japan has the opposite problem - the population is aging and declining, so they are encouraging companies to keep people longer and hire without regard to age or sex.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think a purpose in life - which is often one's career - is what keeps people healthy and happy.
As for Fiji, Mr. Qarase is nearly 66. He's retired, all right.
FB will be 53 this year. Hopefully he'll learn to behave himself better and an honest and unprejudiced, can be elected to retire him as well.
Then all the people of Fiji can go forward - not just a privileged few with friends in high places living off the backs of others.
Fiji needs to get it right this time. It requires people to care enough to learn what is going on. Suva is not just somewhere that politicians argue and wheel and deal. It is where decisions are made that effect everyone in the country. You have pointed that out in previous posts. We may disagree on a lot of things, but I think we can agree on that one.
The coup has become 'coup culture' and some people have become cynical and no longer rage and question why.
ReplyDeleteMany of the wise ones are keeping quiet at present, probably offended at their treatment - e.g. Ratu Jone Madraiwiwi, or think they can't do anything to change the situation. It's all very bad for the mental health of a society.
w.
On a slightly different tack, some of the CEOs who were sacked last week are really suffering. Good men and women. Suddenly the rug has been pulled out from under them. They probably financially support dozens/scores of people. Also the loss of a job might mean a loss of self-esteem and purpose for people who enjoy their work and believe they have been contributing to society. It's very sad the way the 'clean-up' is targetting the good with the bad, with indifference to who has doing a good job.
ReplyDeletew.