He spoke in support of an increase in minimum wage but maintained that the retirement age should not be raised from 60 to 65.
He said increasing the retirement age could cause many to stay in their current positions which would hinder young employees from gaining promotions.
“It’s also about young people who come in with merit and credibility, and giving them the opportunity to climb up the hierarchy in either the civil service or the private sector,” he said after the launch of an event here today.
He acknowledged that Japan had set its retirement age at 65 but said other figures should be taken into account as well when comparing Malaysia with other developed nations.
He also noted that while the average population age in Japan is 47, Malaysia, at 34, is not yet considered an ageing population.
“You can’t pick and choose. If you follow this but you don’t want to follow the others, it’s unfair to young people,” he added.
If Malaysia wants to emulate other developed nations, he said, it should match the standards and treatment of young employees in those countries as well.
“There must be a balance, and I believe that as the prime minister has mentioned, this is the balance.”
Malaysian Trade Unions Congress secretary-general J Solomon had said that Malaysians lacked sufficient income to sustain a living post-retirement as the national life expectancy is expected to increase to 80 years.
He said a higher retirement age would boost the Employees Provident Fund savings of those with lower incomes as well as senior citizens.
On news that the Terengganu government is formulating a shariah code for its athletes, Syed Saddiq said he had been informed that the drafting of the code is only at a preliminary stage, and that it would be advisory.
He said he would continue discussing the issue with the Terengganu government as well as at the quarterly meeting with sports excos from each state.
He added that sports should unify Malaysians while remaining inclusive of all, citing the example of athletes who choose to wear the hijab.
“I stand with our athletes and the statement released by National Sports Council director-general Ahmad Shapawi,” he said.