Chris Infotainment

Survey Highlights Preferences for Prolonging Employment of Older Workers A recent survey has revealed that 86% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) believe that selective re-employment is the most desirable method for extending the employment of older workers, rather than simply increasing the retirement age. The Korea Federation of SMEs released the findings of its "Opinion Survey on Employment Extension Among Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises" on the 19th. The survey was conducted among SMEs with 30 or more employees that have a retirement system. According to the results, 86.2% of responding companies identified "selective re-employment" as the preferred approach for extending employment of retirees. Only 13.8% supported "statutory retirement age extension," a proposal often advocated by labor groups. Selective re-employment refers to a system where employers decide on re-employment based on job performance, achievements, health status, and...

Expansion of Automatic Point Usage Service Starting this year, all card companies will offer a service that automatically uses points up to a certain amount. Currently, only three out of eight full-service card companies—Woori, Hyundai, and KB Kookmin Cards—operate this service, but the remaining five have agreed to introduce it by the end of this year. In particular, the automatic point usage service will be applied by default to senior citizens aged 65 and older starting in February next year. On the 17th, the Financial Supervisory Service and the Credit Finance Association announced the full expansion of the automatic point usage service to all card companies. Card members who join this service can specify how many points they want to use each time they make a card payment. For example, if they set the automatic usage to 1,000 points, 1,000 points will be used first during each card payment. Once the points are exhausted, the service will automatically resume using points once th...

Survey Reveals Preferences of Middle-Market Enterprises on Elderly Employment Recent discussions about extending the retirement age to 65 have sparked significant debate, particularly within the National Assembly. A survey released on the 10th highlights the preferences of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) regarding the continued employment of elderly workers. The findings indicate that SMEs are more inclined towards "re-employment after retirement" than "retirement age extension." According to the results of the "Survey on Continued Employment Status of Middle-Market Enterprises," conducted by the Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea, 62.1% of middle-market enterprises prefer re-employment after retirement as a method for continuing to employ elderly workers. This is significantly higher than the 33.1% who favor retirement age extension and the 4.7% who support abolishing the retirement age altogether. The federation noted that this ...

Rising Trend of Senior Scholars Leaving for Overseas Opportunities Domestic universities are witnessing a growing trend where senior engineering and science scholars choose to move abroad after reaching retirement age. This phenomenon, often referred to as "senior brain drain," is becoming increasingly common as established scholars seek opportunities overseas. One such example is Song Ik-ho, a renowned communications scholar who became the youngest KAIST associate professor at 28 in 1988. He recently moved to the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) in Chengdu following his retirement in February. Critics believe that this exodus is driven by several factors, including rigid 65-year retirement rules, a lack of social respect and stable support for science and technology, and fears of research disruption. These losses not only erode decades of accumulated expertise but also deprive younger generations of mentorship, weaken domestic research capab...

The Elderly Nation: A Reflection on Nigeria’s 65 Years of Independence The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines the elderly as someone aged 60 years and above. However, definitions for 'elderly' can vary significantly, with the UN and other organisations using the cut off of 65 years. Therefore, Nigeria, by all definitions, is an elderly country. We say, "a fool at forty is a fool forever," but we are much older than forty, so I think the best term for us is the Yoruba term—'Agbaya'. Coincidentally, October 1, our Independence Day, is also celebrated as the international day of older persons worldwide. Hitherto, Agbaya. Another October 1 has come and gone, draped in the familiar green and white colours. At 65 years of age, a nation, like any person, should be enjoying the fruits of its labour, standing with the steady gait of maturity and the wisdom of experience. Its citizens should feel the robust pulse of its systems, the surety of its protection, an...

Oyo State Opposes Proposed Retirement Age Extension for Teachers and Civil Servants The Oyo State Government has officially rejected the proposal to extend the retirement age for teachers and other civil servants from 60 to 65 years. This decision comes amid a broader national debate over the implications of raising the retirement age across various sectors. In February, the Federal Government approved an extension of the retirement age for clinically skilled health workers, aiming to improve healthcare delivery and training capacity. However, this move did not apply to all categories of civil servants. On May 1, the Nigeria Labour Congress called for a similar extension across all civil service roles, highlighting concerns about workforce sustainability. Meanwhile, several states have taken different approaches. The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, announced an immediate extension of the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65 years, along with an increase in their years of...

As living costs continue to rise in Australia, a growing impatience among younger generations for early access to inheritance is contributing to an increase in elder financial abuse. This issue has become more prevalent as families face mounting economic pressures, leading to troubling cases of exploitation. Anne (not her real name) only realized the extent of her older brother’s abuses against their elderly mother after he had taken her away. According to Anne, her brother had been secretly claiming carer’s allowance and other benefits, and allegedly forging their mother’s signature to alter her will. When she received a ruling from the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), which determined that her mother still had the capacity to manage her own affairs, it was too late. Her brother had spent most of her money on gambling and alcohol, leaving her to die of neglect. Doctors told Anne that her mother had not had her medication in over two weeks and was suffering f...

Addressing the Digital Divide: A Guide for the Elderly In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, many elderly individuals find themselves struggling to keep up with the technological advancements that seem second nature to younger generations. To address this growing challenge, the Chungnam Provincial Office of Education, in collaboration with the Chungcheongnam-do Literacy Education Center and Lotte GRS, has published a guidebook titled “Unmanned Ordering Machine Guidebook.” This resource aims to help seniors navigate digital devices such as kiosks with greater ease. The guidebook includes detailed instructions on how to use these machines properly. For instance, it advises users not to remove the card too early, to insert the card with the IC chip facing up, and to remain calm if the screen resets after some time. It encourages users to start over slowly from the beginning if they encounter difficulties. These simple yet crucial steps are designed to reduce frustration and enhance t...

Addressing the Crisis of Isolation Among the Elderly The recent discovery of the remains of an elderly resident in a public housing flat has once again brought attention to the growing issue of isolation among the aging population. This tragic event, which occurred in Kwai Tsing district, is not an isolated incident. It highlights a deeper systemic problem that requires urgent and comprehensive action. As the primary provider of housing for the elderly, the government holds a critical role in addressing this crisis. The current social safety network is insufficient to support the increasing number of elderly individuals living alone or with an elderly spouse. Without proper support systems in place, such incidents are likely to become more frequent unless effective measures are implemented. Several initiatives have been introduced to tackle this issue, but they remain fragmented and lack coordination. A centralized approach is necessary to ensure that all efforts are aligned and imp...