Fed: Ageing workers should be encouraged to remain working
By Barbara Adam, Industrial Correspondent
MELBOURNE, April 23 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard's looming 64th birthday may allowhim to set an example for Australia's ageing baby boomers - and their employers.
Union and business leaders today released a report containing alarming statistics aboutthe impact of the nation's ageing population, estimated to cost $27 billion in lost economicgrowth and spending each decade.
The report, by emeritus professor Sol Encel of the University of NSW, found the socialand economic cost of the ageing population was compounded by the relatively low levelsof older workers remaining at work.
The report found Australia had a strong culture of early retirement compared to otherdeveloped countries.
At the launch of the report, ACTU president Sharan Burrow and Business Council of Australiachief executive Katie Lahey said workers should be encouraged to remain at work as longas possible.
Employers should also be encouraged to retain older workers.
"A shrinking workforce leads to a shrinking economy, leads to a shrinking tax base,which in the end spells problems for Australia," Ms Lahey said.
Ms Burrow admitted that retaining older people in the workforce would require a hugecultural shift, a change in the way older people are regarded by employers, governments,their colleagues and themselves.
Workers should also be given the option of working past the standard retirement ageof 65, Ms Burrow and Ms Lahey said.
But when asked how their comments related to Mr Howard's possible retirement at his64th birthday in July, Ms Burrow and Ms Lahey became coy.
"We were betting we'd get this question," Ms Lahey said.
"All we'd like to say on that really is that he's a terrific example of a mature aged worker."
Ms Burrow was slightly less complimentary: "I can't say that I want him necessarilyto stay in the job," she said.
"But I certainly respect his choice to stay in the workforce."
Where did that leave Mr Howard's possible successor, 45-year-old Treasurer Peter Costello,Ms Burrow was asked.
"I think you'd have to ask Peter Costello whether he's got the stamina for the roleand that's what it's all about," she said.
"It's about how people feel, whether they want to make choices to continue to workor whether they want to balance their lives by part-time work and part-time retirementperhaps.
"(It's about) whether they just want to stay in the workforce for a number of yearsin addition to what might have been expected because they're genuinely interested in theintellectual, the physical challenge and indeed contributing to society."
AAP bja/gfr/sek/de
KEYWORD: AGEING NIGHTLEAD
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