ABU DHABI // More attention should be paid to the country’s senior citizens – especially those with special needs – and the roles they can play in society, the FNC says.
Members called for more firms and government bodies to employ retirees, training to enable seniors to continue living fulfilling lives, and full health insurance.
Ahmed Al Mansouri (Dubai) said senior citizens, including those with disabilities, could provide a “positive and active” role in the workforce, which would improve their well-being, provide them with extra income and benefit the community.
“Are there efforts to take advantage of their creativity?” Mr Al Mansouri asked Obaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs and vice chairman of the General Pension and Social Security Authority, at the FNC session on Tuesday.
“Are there programmes that can reintegrate them into society and reemploy them for extra income?
“Early retirement should not stop them from contributing to their growth and development, to their families, to society, unless they don’t want to. The choice should be theirs and the authority should provide them with platforms to be productive.”
He said the pension authority should study the matter.
“Find out what sectors they can contribute to and set a grand strategy in encouraging organisations from public and private sectors to hire them,” Mr Al Mansouri said.
“Perhaps the authority can start by hiring retirees with special needs, or provide them with platforms to train them or improve their skills and enrich their knowledge.”
Mr Al Tayer said the authority was constantly updating its data to learn about pensioners’ needs.
“Part of the authority’s initiative in updating the data is to identify all groups, especially those with special needs, and know their number and level of disability,” he said.
“They are part of the community and integrating them into the community is a collective effort.
Ahmed Al Zaabi (Sharjah) said pensioners deserved to have full health insurance. As it is, they still pay for some treatment and medication.
“[Insurance] is necessary. Every person needs insurance,” Mr Al Zaabi said. “They are in that period of time where they need health care.
“They are government employees, so the Government should provide them with treatment – good treatment.”
He said the Government must recognise the medical conditions of retirees, as many of them have health issues that require constant care.
Mr Al Zaabi said providing full insurance would save the Government the extra expenses needed to have citizens treated abroad.
“We send many people to receive treatment in other countries – that also costs the country,” he said. “This will be beneficial. If there was enough insurance, this will conserve the Government’s treasury.”
Mr Al Tayer said the costs for such a move would be high.
Rashad Bukhash (Dubai) suggested the end-of-service payment should be given within the pension payments.
Mr Al Tayer responded that the bonus was paid if the person completed 35 years of service.
“He receives an equivalent to three month’s salary for every year he had worked, in addition to the pension,” he said.
Sultan Al Dhaheri (Abu Dhabi), head of the FNC’s financial, economic and industrial affairs committee, called for a raise in pension payments.
Mr Al Tayer assured him of positive results in the coming year, without giving further details.
aalkhoori@thenational.ae
