Wah, these days ah, Singapore economy like roller coaster sia. One moment good, one moment bad. Got this uncle, 52 years old, working in same company for more than 20 years liao. He tell his kopi kakis at the hawker centre, “Aiya, I scared leh… I haven even reach retirement age, later they retrench me how?”
Last time ah, his company very steady one, every year bonus, got company dinner, even organise family day. But now ah, after Covid, after all the cost cutting, everything change. Management always say “need to restructure”, “need to be more lean”, but in office ah, people all whisper whisper, scared next email from HR is the retrenchment letter.
Uncle’s main worry is ah, he still got housing loan to pay, two kids in polytechnic, and old mother at home. “Last time I tot work hard, loyal to company, can retire peacefully. Now hor, loyalty no use one. They see you old already, they think you expensive, then bye bye.”
Younger Workers Come In, Old Birds Feel The Heat
Every week got new young staff join, fresh from uni, can work long hours, no complain. Uncle say ah, now meetings all talk about new tech, AI this, AI that, sometimes he blur like sotong. He try to learn, but the pace so fast until he feel like mountain tortoise.
His friends also same situation — some already kenna retrenched at 50, still cannot find proper job, end up driving Grab or doing delivery. “Not say I look down on that job, but hor, if can I still want stable income. I work so many years, suddenly go deliver food, heart pain one,” he sigh.
Retirement Seems Further and Further
Government always say retirement age can extend, work longer. But uncle think ah, what’s the point if company don’t want to keep you? He hope can at least work until 62, but in his heart he also start preparing for worst.
Now ah, every month he save a bit more, cut down on makan outside, and start thinking of small business to do. “Singapore life not easy, must always got Plan B,” he tell his kopi kakis, before slowly stirring his kopi-O, thinking how to survive if retrenchment really come knocking.