29-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Govt study looks into raising retirement age to 65
KUALA LUMPUR: A feasibility study on raising the mandatory retirement age for public service to 65 years by 2035 is being initiated to lay a strong foundation in addressing Malaysia's ageing population.
Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said this is among 11 high-impact intervention measures across ministries and agencies currently being implemented under the National Ageing Blueprint (NAB) 2025–2045.
"The NAB was presented at the National Economic Action Council Meeting on Feb 12. Following the meeting, it was agreed that 11 high-impact intervention measures across ministries and agencies would be implemented immediately to establish a strong foundation in addressing population ageing.
"The implementation of strategies and initiatives outlined in the NAB will help the country increase the number of skilled caregivers in the care sector and the labour force participation rate of individuals aged between 60 and 65 in the local job market by 2030," she said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
She was responding to a question from Tan Kok Wai (PH-Cheras) regarding policy improvements and interventions being formulated to ensure that an ageing population is not a challenge but instead a catalyst for economic growth and social progress.
Hanifah said another intervention is to encourage older individuals to rejoin the workforce for up to five years after reaching the minimum retirement age.
She said the government would also enhance career mobility to improve the employability of the local workforce, introduce legislative controls to ensure the production of safe and high-quality food products, and improve access to domiciliary and palliative care services within communities.
"(This includes) the creation of a sustainable long-term care ecosystem through the introduction of comprehensive legislation and governance, developing talent and skills in the care sector through training and recognised standardised certification, including for informal caregivers and volunteers, and reforming the social protection system to be more inclusive in meeting future challenges," she said.
The NAB aims to provide strategies and initiatives to prepare Malaysia for the impacts of becoming an ageing nation by 2043.
It encompasses policy planning, frameworks, and action plans in areas such as the economy, employment, education, social protection, health, and long-term care.
