Fed; Gov't to examine ways to keep people in workforce longer
SYDNEY, Aug 27 AAP - The federal government would begin examining ways to keep olderAustralians in the workforce past normal retirement age, Prime Minister John Howard saidtoday.
Mr Howard said the inquiry was urgently needed so that Australia could sustain itshigh levels of economic growth into the future.
He said it was critical that all levels of government, business and the community workedtogether to ensure the wealth of talent in older Australians was not lost.
"I believe both governments and the private sector have a role to play in lifting theworkforce participation rate of older Australians," Mr Howard said at a Sydney symposiumon ageing.
"Small, well-targeted steps taken now will help ensure that we can avoid more drasticsteps in 20, 30 or 40 years time."
Mr Howard said employers must address issues like flexible working conditions so thatmature age personnel could choose their working hours, retirement age and the specificrewards they want to receive.
"Research shows that mature age workers have many qualities valuable to business, includingexperience, loyalty, corporate knowledge, commitment, strong work ethics, reliabilityand low absenteeism," he said.
Mr Howard said keeping more mature age workers in the labour force would help to containrising costs in the healthcare and welfare sectors.
AAP ld/hn/ldj/jlw
KEYWORD: AGEING HOWARD
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