The Outstanding Senior Employees and Seniors Employers Recognition Programme 2024 awarded 10 outstanding elderly employees and 62 businesses and organisations employing elderly people yesterday, with the aim of promoting the admiration for and recognition of senior citizens’ contributions to the community with their work experience and skills.
Co-organised by the Macau Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) and Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL), the awarding ceremony of the programme was held at the Macau Science Centre (MSC) yesterday.
Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) Employment Department Chief Lei Lai Keng told reporters on the sidelines of the ceremony that a total of 250 nominations were received from eligible elderly employees, of whom more than 100 were aged 70 or above, with the oldest one being 85 years old.
Lei said that the 10 awardees were chosen by the selection committee on the basis of their work discipline, ability, further studies, and interpersonal relationships.
Lei pointed out that for the first two quarters of the year, there was an increase in the number of elderly people aged 65 or above in the workforce, and more than 30 percent of the elderly people entered under the scheme have been more than 10 years in the same job, reflecting the stability of employment for the elderly.
Lei said she hoped that more enterprises will join the scheme in the future and provide more flexible working hours for senior citizens to choose, so that they can make use of their spare time and “forget about their age” and take part in employment.
In addition, IAS senior official Choi Sio Un told reporters on the sidelines of the ceremony that the government has all long been concerned about senior citizens living alone, and plans to cooperate with non-government organisations (NGOs) next year in launching a pilot outreach service targeting the elderly and families concerned, where social workers and activity coordinators will form service teams to reach out to senior citizens.
Choi also pointed out that the bureau’s mobile app aimed at supporting the elderly living alone has been launched this month, with its first stage being piloted at the government’s rental housing estate for senior citizens in Areia Preta district, where more than 100 senior citizens have started to use it. Choi added that the bureau will promote the app among the elderly in other districts in the future.
Outstanding senior employees and their employers are awarded during yesterday’s Outstanding Senior Employees and Seniors Employers Recognition Programme awarding ceremony held at Macau Science Centre (MSC). – Photo: Ginnie Liang
