SINGAPORE : Companies should already introduce human resource policies that facilitate re-hiring of older workers.

The call came from the Manpower Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen on Friday at a Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry event.

He said this will prepare firms ahead of the re-employment legislation, which takes effect in 2012.

So far, the labour movement says 209 unionised companies have re-employed over 3,000 older workers.

Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen also used the occasion to remind his audience that longevity is not found in just folklore.

He said: "In Chinese stories, Chang e was banished to the moon because she drank this special potion, an elixir of mortality and he could live to a very long life. Chang Ming Bai Sui, living to an old age. Of course nowadays we're more civilised. If you live very long, you don't have to go to the moon, you just have to buy a longevity insurance and indeed some of our parents and grandparents are living so long.

"It's good to grow old in Singapore there's a lot to look forward to but if you want to grow old well, I think we have to prepare early. And we must not lose our traditional model, the confusion value of filial piety."

This is why the government announced changes to the Central Provident Fund (CPF) and introduced measures to help Singaporeans work longer.

These include more Workfare Income Supplement and higher CPF interests.

In line with that, Dr Ng called on the Chamber to get its members to change their employment practices to help citizens work longer.

Dr Ng said: "You can play your role, to change your processes, to keep your older workers, because I honestly want to tell you as Labour Minister, the labour market is getting very tight. I worry for you. There'll be many jobs chasing after workers. So to help your businesses, you should make full use of your older workers."

In response, the Chamber said it will conduct seminars and workshops to educate its members on the re-employment legislation.

The Chambers' Vice-President, Patrick Lee, who also sits on the National Longevity Insurance Committee, said: "In fact the Chamber itself would like to re-employ these retiring employees as long as their skills are still relevant and able to contribute to the Chamber. We will try our best to promote this to our members so that we can all work on that as a national project together."

Dr Ng added that with the changes made, the CPF system will be strengthened.

This will help improve the retirement security for all Singaporeans and it will also help citizens to face the future with greater confidence. - CNA/ch