House of Representatives would prioritize the passage of a bill lowering optional retirement age of government workers from 60 to 56.
Party-list Rep. France Castro of ACT Teachers welcomed the House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization’s approval of the proposed law on Wednesday.
She called for the immediate passage of fhe measure saying that it is long overdue.
“Since the 16th Congress, we have been pushing for a lower optional retirement age of public school teachers. In fact, this bill had already passed on third and final reading last 17th Congress in the House of Representatives, “ Castro said.
“Now, the government must heed the strong clamor of its employees, the civil servants, who dedicated their time and life to serve the nation, for the option to retire at an earlier age in order for them to enjoy their retirement benefits for as long as possible.”
Castro said public school teachers have consistently raised their demand to be given the choice to retire earlier during our formal and informal consultations nationwide.
“It is imperative that Congress listen to these government workers who have devoted their lives to honing the minds and nurturing the hearts of our youth, in spite of receiving meager salaries, working in underfunded schools and doing additional, usually unpaid, miscellaneous tasks,” Castro said.
“While the 65 years old mandatory retirement age remains, government employees should be given the freedom to retire earlier, especially those who are suffering from ailments and are in need of intensive medical attention,” Castro stated.
She stressed the enactment of the bill will be beneficial to the state workforce as most government employees actually prefer to stay in service for a longer time even working up to 65 years old, the mandatory retirement age, in order to ensure maximum retirement benefits.
“We urge the government and our fellow lawmakers in both houses of Congress to take concrete steps, prioritize this measure and ensure its swift enactment to law,” Castro said.