INDIA: Trade Union Body Against 62 As Retirement Age

NEW DELHI (The Hindu), December 21, 2007: The All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) opposes the proposal to raise the superannuation age of the government employees from 60 to 62 years. Gurudas Dasgupta, AITUC general secretary, said in a statement yesterday that the organisation was totally opposed to this move. “We are aware that certain vested interests in the higher bureaucracy are pursuing the proposal while this is not the demand of the employees in general.” Earlier, the NDA government increased the retirement age from 58 to 60, reportedly due to financial constraints to pay the terminal benefits. Unemployment was on the rise and the entry into the government services by way of extending the services of those who are to retire at 60 would further escalate the problem, Mr. Dasgupta said. Copyright © 2007, The Hindu.