Call to abolish pension age

the topic is retirement age, how did young people get into this. Lets stick to the topic, because that is an entirely different and lengthly topic.  Increase the retirement age based on the individuals pension etc. This is not an easy subject but I do agree if you are able then work.

Again, another good motion fom Ezzard.  One would expect this to be fully supported and unanimously passed by the LA.  Apart from the reasons stated, it is obvious that an employed elderly workforce requires less support from the public coffers. Clearly, we know the concerns relating to local Pension Plans and insurance coverage, especially those of the public service. Any Government would do itself and the country a well by encouraging and allowing the continued employment of the elderly.

 

Good move Ezzard and good luck. Hopefully this will be one motion that is not evaluated and addressed by political posturing.  

There is one particular issue which is being forgotten here, possibly because most readers are unaware of it.

The Approved Health Insurance providers have for some considerable time determined the age of retirement, resulting in retirees being 'dropped' when reaching this 'age' or as an alternative having their previous level of benefit reduced to the basic SHIC1 plan, without the person being aware of it.

May I suggest to the Editor that a Poll be undertaken to allow the ones who have experienced this discrimination, to record this discrimination by the Insurers. There are a considerable number affected.

 

I agree with Mr. Miller's motion, being one myself recently given the shove-off primarily because of age, although this was denied by those who made the decision for my lay-off.  I would like to ask Mr. Mario Ebanks, now the Head of the Labour & Employment Relations, whether consideration is being given at all to re-training programs (as necessary) for older people - those who are are not prohibited by bad health to work, those who are in their 50's  and 60's, unemployed but still with financial responsibilities, those who have proven themselves to be stable, dependable workers throughout their years of employment, and those who still strongly desire and need to be employed? There are programs now for the younger ones coming out of school and those are laudable.  Why not similar, suitable programs for the older ones?

Why do companies which are headed up by foreign managers take on primarily foreign workers - their friend and buddies who want a time "in the sun" - who cannot and do not know more about certain jobs than Caymanians - some are even trained by Caymanians - and they are given training in-house to make up for any shortfalls in knowledge or skills?  Advertisements are obviously intended to cut Caymanians out of the bidding by the high qualifications which are attached to just ordinary, mundane responsibilities.  How many degrees does it take to be a secretary or do similar corporate work?  How many degrees does it take to be a filing clerk in a law firm, or work in retail business and provide customer service?   Many people who did not have the opportunity in their younger years to earn a degree have still learned, from the bottom up, on-the-job, to do their jobs efficiently, but now are told they need a degree to continue after several decades of faithful performance!

It would be really, really a decent and right thing for those in management to not be so ready to displace a faithful, capable and loyal Caymanian employee only to replace their position with a foreign person who lacks half their experience and proven skills.  And for the Labour and Employment office and the Immigration Board to more closely examine work permits applications and enquire to know why a Caymanian is not filling the position, or whether a Caymanian has been displaced from the position and the reason why.  Where is consideration for our Caymanians being given and by whom?  I don't mean some discriminating "protectionist" anti-expat policies, but simply examining applications with due diligence and discretion, with favour to our own people where possible.

I fear sometimes for what I see our Islands coming to, for the day of reckoning will come! We seem to be "hanging by a thread" now more than ever before...our beautiful, friendly, previously stable, almost crime-free, Cayman Islands...the place where people came to and never wanted to leave.  Now some of our own indigenous people are wanting to leave because of the harsh fight for survival!  I'm so glad to know and experience that God holds my life and future in His hands and thankful that it is not left to inadequate, failing powers-that-be!  He is my Provider, my Sustainer and my Defender, and I rest my case in Him!

 

Then put pressure on the Immigration Department. The world is in a recession but oddly enough we still have over 1500 Caymanians unemployed and work permits keep getting approved. This is because the only source of secure income along with duty that the  Government can depend on so others can waste it! I am sure if an elderly person is forced to retire is there a Caymanian to replace that position or do they just replace them with a foreigner.

I have no gripes with foreigners but what is the sense of depending on work permit fees to sustain our government when our own people have no work , resorting to crime or depending on the government and then the Government having to spend that money on expanding the Police force and eventually the prisons.

Then the tourist stop coming and the expats start leaving because crime is on the rise and then we are left with what? Yeah we get a job but no money or no experience and our infrastructure and tourism product just died. 

It should be up to the individual when they want to retire. Why be forced to retire ! Why not force everyone that comes out of school in cayman that they must get work also? Once they are capable of performing the daily duties and good physical and mental shape let them work. 

I can recall reading somewhere in the past that by 1990 at least with the advent of computers and technology we would all be living lives of leisure. Most of the tedious jobs would be done by machines, robots would take over,.and we could all relax. Now however, thanks to miracle of modern economics, we can all expect to work longer.  For less.

What would Bush do?

I can bet most of you who are in agreement with this proposal are old money grubbing retirees. When you hit 65 retire and give younger, more capable minds a chance. Save and plan for retirement and then relax and enjoy what's left of your life.

Thank goodness someone has had the commonsense to put this forward. To all those complaining that it's going to take jobs away from the young; forget it. This is the one country where that can't happen. Not enough jobs? Simply stop hiring so many work permit holders. If it doesn't go through, successive governments are going to find themselves with a big, big problem as more and more people turn to them for financial assistance.

My father is late 60’s and still works 5 or 6 days a week.  He, like many ambitious people of his generation, HATES doing nothing.  Several of his male cousins are either in their late 60 or their early 70’s and are still working full time and contributing to Caymanian charities. Thank God they are both self employed and are not being forced out the door due to their age.

My mother worked until she laid off in her early/mid 60’s due to the economic down turn. Granted she has some health issues but in my opinion she could be utilized in a part time position. Due to the economy and age no one is knocking down the door to hire her. She too hates doing nothing all day and has done some volunteer work but this does not pay the bills. 

Just because you retire this does not mean that you no long use electricity, water, healthcare facilities or eat food. Nor does it mean that the bank pardons the remainder of your loan or that the strata man forget to send his monthly bill.  She already depends on me for her upkeep.  I say if someone can and is willing to work, let them do it.  A mind is a terrible thing to waste. 

 That is my 2 cents on the matter.

Extending retirement age would considerably reduce the deficit in the defined benefit pension scheme as well.

other countries are movingfrom 65 to 67.

It is time Cayman caught up.