WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1987
31
ELDERLY WORKERS NEED ADEQUATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM
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AN INADEQUATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR ELDERLY WORKERS BROUGHT NOT ONLY PROBLEMS OF MATERIAL DEPRIVATION BUT ALSO SPIRITUAL SUFFER AS WELL, THE HON ROSANNA TAM SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
WHAT WAS NEEDED WAS NOT ONLY TO SATISFY THEIR HATERIAL WANTS BUT TO LOOK FOR A WAY TO ENTITLE THEM TO A BASIC STANDARD OF LIVING IN A RESPECTABLE AND DIGNIFIED WAY, MRS TAM SAID.
SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND, MRS TAM SAID THOSE RETIRED PEOPLE WHO EVEN HAD THE ASSISTANCE FROM THEIR FAMILIES MUST NOT BE OVERLOOKED.
+WITHOUT ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND DEPRIVED OF THE CHOICE OF THEIR PREFERRED WAY OF LIFE AFTER RETIREMENT, THEY MAY ENCOUNTER VARIOUS PROBLEMS SUCH AS THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FAMILY, THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL STATES AND EVEN THEIR WILL OF LIVING, SHE SAID.
IN RECENT YEARS, THE PROBLEM OF ABUSE OF THE ELDERLY HAD BECOME SERIOUS, AS EVIDENCED IN THE RISING TREND OF SUICIDE AMONG THE ELDERLY, SHE ADDED.
MRS TAM SAID THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME DID PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE NEEDY ELDERLY BUT THE WAY THE ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED, HOWEVER, WOULD HURT THEM PSYCHOLOGICALLY.
AFTER ALL, SHE SAID, HONG KONG'S SOCIAL WELFARE WAS AIMED AT THOSE WHO COULD NOT HELP THEMSELVES EITHER ON A LONG-TERM OR SHORT-TERM BASIS.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ITSELF CARRIED A STRONG STIGMA TO CAUSE FEELINGS OF INFERIORITY AND USELESSNESS AMONG THE RECIPIENTS.
SHE FELT THAT A MORE POSITIVE AND IDEAL SOLUTION WAS TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM OF AN INADEQUATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND ESTABLISH A PROVIDENT FUND SCHEME.
+EMPLOYEES CAN, UNDER THE PRINCIPLE OF WORK MORE AND EARN MORE, SAVE UP PART OF THEIR EARNINGS WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG AND SECURE A PENSION UPON RETIREMENT AT THEIR OLD AGE.
+ IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THEY WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THEIR RELATIVES, THE RETIRED EMPLOYEES ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A BASIC LIVING STANDARD AND HAVE MORE FREEDOM IN CHOOSING THEIR PREFERRED RETIRED LIFE WITHOUT LOSING EITHER SELF-RESPECT OR SELF-CONFIDENCE, SHE SAID.
/MRS TAM ..**
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