Still working in old age
Ms. Can Thi Ha, 61 years old, from Nam Minh commune (Ninh Binh province). Ms. Ha is currently a cleaning and sanitation worker at a construction site in Thuong Tin commune (Hanoi).
Ms. Ha said that she has 3 children, all of whom have grown up and married in their hometown. The children are all small traders, proactive in life, so Ms. Ha and her husband no longer have to worry about raising them. However, to have more money to accumulate in their old age, Ms. Ha and her husband both work at the age of over 60.
“I have been working in Hanoi for 8 years, since my youngest daughter got married. My husband works near my house, mainly both pruning ornamental plants for hire and having a garden to buy and sell. About every 2 months I return to visit my husband and children, give them some money and then go to work. My children all want me to rest, if they are in difficulty, they will support my parents together, but I think I still have health, I can still actively go to work, so I don't bother my children,” Ms. Ha said.
According to Ms. Ha, her current income is about 11 million VND/month, after deducting food and living expenses, she still saves more than 5 million VND/month. "If including Tet bonuses, I save about 70 million VND each year. With this amount of money, I can rest assured in old age. In a few years, when my health is worse, I will take the initiative to rest" - Ms. Ha shared.
Also not resting at the age of 63 when many people have gathered with her children and grandchildren, Ms. Nguyen Thi Mo (from Nam Dinh ward, Ninh Binh province) is currently working as a sanitation worker at a construction site in Thanh Liet ward (Hanoi). Every day, Ms. Mo still regularly wakes up at 5 am. Her daily work is sweeping soil and sand, collecting scrap metal and maintaining hygiene in the construction site operating area.
My eyes are still bright, my limbs are still flexible, staying at home and going in and out of the four walls is very boring. The sanitation work is always done, but it's manageable, and the contractor also creates conditions not to assign too heavy work" - Ms. Mo shared.
Without a pension, an income of nearly 9 million VND/month from the construction site is the main source of livelihood, helping Ms. Mo to be financially self-sufficient. She uses her salary to cover living expenses, buy health insurance, accumulate old age and support her grandchildren when needed.
Both ensuring social security and promoting the value of "dynamic old age
Regarding workers aged 60 - 70 who are still actively participating in the labor market, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong - former Director of the Institute of Labor Science and Social Affairs - expressed her agreement and said that this is a suitable trend in the context of population aging.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, the fact that elderly people who are still healthy continue to participate in labor should not only be viewed from a negative perspective as making a living hard, but it is necessary to clearly see the positive values in terms of social security and spirit.
When physical strength is still adequate, having a suitable job helps them proactively generate income, ensure personal security, accumulate for themselves when sick and reduce the financial burden for their children and grandchildren.
Many workers use this source of income to help their children cover living expenses and take care of young children in the context of increasingly expensive living costs in urban areas.
In addition, elderly workers participating in light and manageable jobs (security guards, cleaners, sanitation workers...) help the elderly maintain lucidity, connect with the community, avoid feeling isolated or becoming "excess people" in old age.
However, for this trend to develop healthily and maximize social security efficiency, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong gave some policy recommendations: It is necessary to build a labor market specifically for the elderly (The State and management agencies need to have policies to encourage businesses to use older workers in suitable positions; establish transparent supply-demand connection channels); ensure a safe working environment (clear regulations on flexible working hours, lower labor intensity and mandatory occupational accident insurance).
