An extended welcome

Predictably a keen debate, on the topic of the retirement age for public servants is now on following a proposal to extend the retirement age of a public servant by another three years.

Presently the age rule for retirement in the public sector is 55 years and this can be extended to 60 years depending on the exigencies of service. For some categories like Judges the retirement age is 65. The retirement age for public servants has been a sore point over the years with arguments for and against the extension of the current retirement age.

It has also been a subject of much discussion even in Parliament with opinion divided on the issue. Those favouring an extension argue that most public servants reach the peak of their careers at the age of 60 and their discontinuation could only have a detrimental effect on the public service.

There are also others who urge humanitarian grounds. They see the age rule affecting those with young families to support, particularly with regard to children’s schooling and other commitments.

There is certainly two schools of thought on the retirement age for public servants. Those for extending the retirement age is also of the view that the present compulsory retirement age of 60 if applied to politicians would have set back the country by many decades. This is due to the country losing the services of such stalwarts like Dr. N.M. Perera, Dr. Colvin R.De Silva and J.R. Jayewardene to name a few who held sway only well past the psalmist’s life span of three score and ten, and responsible for many ground breaking reforms.

They, no doubt were at their peak if possible with even sharper mental faculties. Of course there is no age limit for politics in Sri Lanka or for that matter anywhere in the world. One of the aspirants for the White House in the US Presidential is a septuagenarian. The advocates for an extension of the retirement age could also argue that the experience and practical knowledge of a Public servant nearing retirement could not be substituted by a new entrant who may take years to settle down in his job notwithstanding all the paper qualifications.

Even good wine is judged by it’s age it is said. The proponents of this argument will also point to the dwindling man power in the country in specialised jobs as a result of migration of professionals and experts in specialised fields.

Do we have adequate replacements? These skills would take time to acquire with a newcomer unequal to the task. The country cannot afford to wait with so much at stake in the development sphere. Besides the flight of expertise is today mainly seen in the fields of technology and the professions.

The recent job opportunities in the construction sector in countries such as Qatar has already seen a mass exodus of skilled labour aggravating the problem.

No less a person than the President has invited Lankan professionals and experts domiciled overseas to return to the country and help in the Government’s ambitious development projects in the pipeline.

Besides, with recent studies into our social indices pointing to an improvement in the quality of life, life expectancy and high living index among the Lankans naturally indicates a new benchmark in efficiency and staying power and calls for a change in the current retirement policy. Of course, it can be argued that the line has to be drawn somewhere. Those opposing the move will of course claim that this would block new recruitments to the public sector and hinder career advancement of others.

There is also the contention that emerging high tech savvy generation could fit into the vacancies with panache and better skills. They would also claim that most of the job opportunities in the clerical fields were today redundant and hence the old order should change to make way for the new. No doubt there is validity in both points of view.

The secret lies in obtaining the right balance between the two. It has to be admitted that the new technology milieu has given youth the edge in the job market. It is equally true that experience too counts in equal measures. The robot like efficiency of the young sometimes is no substitute for experienced gained on the job. Often genius emerge only at a mature age and example abound in this regard. Time was when the public sector cruised on at a leisurely pace with few demands made on the public servant. But the rapid advancements all round has shaken the foundations of the moribund public service calling for new skills and innovation.

Some would contend that those of advanced age would be ill equipped to cope with these demands and the extension of their retirement age would serve no purpose. What is needed is a balanced view on the whole topic where the optimum results could be garnered by the fusion of both segments.