When age is just a number

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: In what ways, if any, does your company treat workers above 60 differently from other workers? What measures would incentivise your company to hire and retain older workers?

Seah Kian Peng CEO NTUC FairPrice

MANY people sit up when I tell them that FairPrice employs over 1,600 workers above 60 years of age. They represent more than 16 per cent of our workforce. This is a significant proportion above the national average. I believe a key factor to sustaining a robust senior workforce is to recognise the value and experience of seniors and embrace equal employment opportunities based on merit, regardless of age. This practice also allows us to draw on a wider pool of talent. We have also instituted various initiatives to address the concerns of senior workers such as skills upgrading, job redesign and flexible work arrangements. Seniors help infuse stability and bring balance to youthful energies of the workforce.