Dr. Dinesh Raj Kafle

Birth and death are two points of life, which apply to all creatures of this planet. Everyday time assigned to all is equal, there is no discrimination. However, even in nature there are differences - hot and cold in temperature, low and high in height and white, yellow or black in colour. There are so many points it can be segregated. The time’s rule is important that needs to be strictly followed. Followers do have their own choices on how to use it.  One common standard is that one can’t sane time for the future use. 

Let us take some of the important facts related to the active old people in the industrial or business world. In the United States of America, 55 to 65 years old people are 65 per cent more likely to start a business than those aged 20 to 34 years. In the active workforce, 84 per cent of the 55 to 64 years olds are working in Iceland, 78 per cent in New Zealand, Sweden 76 per cent, and the United Kingdom 64 per cent (Andrew Mason and Ronald Lee).

If Nepal increases certain years of working time of the public or private organised sector workforce instead of reducing the working years, it will boost the GDP. A Boston College study in 2012 in the USA and China that pushed up retirement age found no evidence that employing older people altered job opportunities or wage rates for younger workers over a 40 year period.
The above scenarios indicate health status and attitude of mind are two important points but not totally age.  Many people will be with plenty of energy and no family obligations whereas that is the retirement time at 58 or 60 years. Nepal’s courts and the university professionals do have a comparatively higher retirement age of 63. When old and young workers are mixed together, errors decrease and productivity rises (Haig Nalbantian, Mercer).

Some of the jobs are better done by the experienced workforces, according to supervisors. Senior or normally retired workers in Japan do have a practice of accepting lower compensation than the regular ones. In Western part of the world, it is not practicable, even if somebody wishes to do it because of the equal pay practices. Senior persons having retirement age are seen employed in public or private sectors in Nepal as well. In comparison to Japan or Western nation, Nepal is a different one. Neither is there a contributing tendency or nor the equal compensations. Retired employees receive a pension plus maximum benefits.

Nepal does have a practice of non-retirement from the active political field and continuity in the once achieved roles as lifelong gifts. It would be good to have such a personality having ever needed traits. Maybe such will not prevail in normal situations. Practice of engaging knowledge and skills workers to add to the value chain in the sectors with rational rules and encouragement will definitely add value.

There are people who feel old even at 40 while some are doing jobs even at 80 or 90 years of age. Considering all the points, we may safely say that old age is reality, concept  or both. This is not only a general rule. It will be guided by physical and mental health, attitude, available opportunities, stock of updated knowledge and skills. The prime question is: will it ultimately be beneficial to both as employee or employer?