Bill allowing post-retirement age work opportunities hurdles House

“Senior citizens should also be given the opportunity to be given post-retirement careers, like for example doing menial jobs that are not physically strenuous. Let’s allow them to be still productive citizens of the country. If advanced economies can do it, why can’t we?” (Pexels Photo)

By Jose Cielito Reganit, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on the third and final reading a proposed measure allowing senior citizens to be employed even after reaching retirement age.

House Bill (HB) 10985 or the Employment Opportunities for Senior Citizens and Private Entities’ Incentives Act received 173 affirmative votes during the plenary session.

“Retired or elderly individuals should not just be left to fend for themselves or depend entirely on their monthly pension. It’s about time we help ensure automatic employment allocation for Filipinos aged 60 years old and above,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said in a statement.

“Senior citizens should also be given the opportunity to be given post-retirement careers, like for example doing menial jobs that are not physically strenuous. Let’s allow them to be still productive citizens of the country. If advanced economies can do it, why can’t we?”

Once enacted into law, HB 10985 will further amend Republic Act 7432, entitled “An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation-Building, Grant Benefits and Special Privileges” signed into law by the late President Cory Aquino in April 1992.

HB 10985 mandates the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through the Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) to provide information and matching services to senior citizens who have the capacity and desire to work or to be re-employed.

All government agencies and private entities shall institute an employment program that promotes the general well-being of senior citizens and ensures access to employment opportunities for those who have the qualifications, capacity, and interest to be employed.

The bill likewise made a list of possible employment for the elderly, which shall include clerical or secretarial works, consultancy, cleaning or janitorial services, event organizing, teaching, kitchen help, sales assistance, BPOs and other jobs or volunteer works.

Private entities that would employ senior citizens upon the effectivity of the law shall be entitled to an additional deduction from their gross income, equivalent to 25 percent of the total amount paid as salaries, wages, benefits, and training provided to senior citizens.

The proposed law likewise prohibits all government instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations, local government units, and government hospitals from charging fees to senior citizens for documents — such as birth certificate, police clearance, medical certificate—required for their employment.

“Nothing in this Act shall prevent government agencies and private entities from hiring qualified senior citizens for consultancy and other similar arrangements, or from initiating or providing greater benefits, or improving the working conditions, or terms of employment of senior citizens beyond the minimum requirements provided by applicable laws,” the bill stated.