Thailand: age and experience

Thailand: age and experience

Advertisement

With Thailand’s population ageing rapidly, unlike its neighbours with more youthful populations, older people are bringing their experience to workplaces from bus depots to factories.

The government is urging businesses to hire more older people to soften the impact of the ageing workforce on productivity, as well as limit the rise in the cost of its modest pension scheme.

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

Pornsak Bowornsrisuk sits on a bench at the Bangkok bus terminal he manages.

"You've got to be damned tough to do this job," said the 63-year-old, who records bus arrivals and departures, and tots up fares collected from journeys across Thailand's capital.

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

The World Bank estimates the working-age population will shrink by 11 percent by 2040, the fastest contraction among Southeast Asia's developing countries.

Septuagenarian bus conductor Pranom Chartyothin moves nimbly to a door to guide students off the vehicle. She waves at the driver, 66-year-old Plang Pansaior, who glances in his rear view mirror before pulling away.

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

Thailand's stage of economic development, the rising cost of living and education, and a population waiting longer to get married are among the reasons it is ageing more quickly than its neighbours.

An effective contraception programme in the 1970s also played a part, said Sutayut Osornprasop, a human development specialist at the World Bank in Thailand.

Thailand's fertility rate dropped to 1.5 in 2013 from 5.6 in 1970, according to United Nations data.

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

Thailand will have to boost productivity to foot the bill for supporting the elderly, Bank of Thailand Governor Veerathai Santiprabhob said in January.

"Everyone has to be able to earn more to be able to shoulder the cost of our ageing society," he said.

Among older Thais who continue to clock on is Thongdee Saenghow, a 62-year-old production supervisor, who works at a rice vermicelli factory outside Bangkok.

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

The state paid 61.37 billion baht ($1.73 billion) in 2015 in pensions and the cost is expected to rise by 16 percent to 71.23 billion baht in 2020.

The government established a Department of Older Persons in March 2015 to tackle elderly employment and related issues.

Sunisa Hongaroon, a 67-year-old accountant, works in a transportation company in Bangkok.

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

The Bangkok Transport Co, which employs Pornsak, Pranom and Plang, is embracing the change. Around 13 percent of its workforce is over 60. The firm likes older staff as they can keep their cool in Bangkok's bumper-to-bumper traffic, said the director Phatharawadee Klomjaroon.

"Bangkok's streets are jammed," she said. "Young employees sometimes still cannot control their temper, but the older employees are focused and more mindful. They can keep a calm demeanour when it comes to driving."

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

With pensions of 600-1,000 baht a month ($17-$28), many Thais have no choice but to keep working.

"It is tiring but we just have to keep going," said Pranom, 72, who used to work as a cleaner and became a bus conductor after her husband died. “There isn't anyone to take care of me.”

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

Nearly 40 percent of the 10 million Thais who are above the mandatory retirement age of 60 are still in the workforce, said Anusan Thienthong, head of the Department of Older Persons.

The government is considering extending the retirement age for some occupations, he said.

Just outside the Thai capital, the Cho Heng Rice Vermicelli Factory Co says more and more older people are seeking jobs. Thongdee Saenghow, 62, works there as a production supervisor.

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva

"We're getting more calls asking if we accept old applicants," said factory owner Varatus Vongsurakrai, adding that 62 of his 1,600 workers are over retirement age.

The owner, 68, said he valued older workers for their reliability and experience. Amnuay Pienpituk, general manager at the factory and seen here checking his mobile phone, is 86 years old.

(Text editing by Brian McGee)

. Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters/Jorge Silva