Promoting the Employment of Senior Citizens in Taiwan and Hong Kong
Resource
Journal of Comparative Asian Development, 8(1), 1-24
Journal
The Journal of Comparative Asian Development
Pages
1
Date Issued
2009
Date
2009
Author(s)
Chan, Raymond K.-H.
Wang, Y.-T.
Abstract
Abstract The populations of Taiwan and Hong Kong are ageing. There are grave concerns about the well-being of senior citizens and the impact of an older population on society and public financing. While many debates focus on the improvement of welfare provisions, little attention has been paid to promote the employment of senior citizens, as an alternative to increasing their welfare. This paper will use the examples provided by Taiwan and Hong Kong to compare the patterns of senior employment, the factors shaping these patterns, and the existing policies and services to promote senior employment. Though in recent years, there has been more attention paid to the benefits of activity for senior citizens in these two societies, there has still been a decline in senior citizens' participation in the workforce. This decline is a result of the changing economic structure, the impact of ageism, and a “cultural trap” that keeps the older people in a state of dependency. While acknowledging the limits of senior citizens' participation in the labour market, we advocate an escape from this cultural trap by means of appropriate policies to enhance seniors' human capital and relax the retirement age. Such policies are preferable to the extreme reconfigurations of the labour market practices.
SDGs