Chairman of the National Korpri Management Board Zudan Arif Fakrullah proposed increasing the retirement age limit for state civil servants (ASN) to a maximum of 70 years.
According to a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation at EMC Sentul Hospital, dr. Novaria Puspita, Sp.KFR, AIFO-K., Indonesian society enters old age or elderly starting at the age of 60. Therefore, dr. Novaria gave a response to the proposal to increase the retirement age from the perspective of the health of the elderly community.
"In my opinion, the basis is that in 2025 the number of elderly people will increase. From 10 years ago, the number of elderly people in 2025 will be twice as many. Previously in 2014-2015 the number of elderly people was only around 18 million. Meanwhile in 2025 it will reach 36 million, because the life expectancy will be better," said Dr. Novaria to Health Liputan6.com after filling the material in the Healthy Monday edition of Monday, May 26, 2025 in Jakarta.
"So maybe that's why the government thinks that 'there are a lot of elderly people now, so why not increase the working age' because there are indeed a lot of people who have reached that age," he added.
So, is 70 years old still considered a productive age?
"If it's a productive age, now the average adult age is up to 60 years old on average," said Dr. Novaria.
Need for Adjustment of Workload for Elderly Workers
Dr. Novaria also suspects that Indonesia wants to start adapting the ways of other countries such as Singapore in employing the elderly.
"Maybe Indonesia is starting to want to adapt, in developed countries there are two percentages, namely elderly workers and disabled workers. But we don't know the real rules whether they are all averaged up to 70 years or there are certain terms and conditions."
On the same occasion, an internal medicine specialist at EMC Cibitung Hospital, Dr. Yhan Batista, Sp.PD, said that if the regulation is implemented, there needs to be an adjustment to the workload.
"There needs to be an adjustment in the workload. Maybe when you were young you did a lot of physical work, but it's impossible for you to do the same when you're elderly. Maybe you can work more in the office, I think the terms and conditions need to be looked at," said Dr. Yhan.
Benefits or Impacts of Formal Work until Age 70 on Elderly Health
If the elderly work until the age of 70, then they have the opportunity to interact with colleagues. Social interaction is a good thing for the elderly to do to prevent memory problems such as forgetfulness or senile dementia.
However, Dr. Yhan said that the impact of formal work until old age can be different for each person. Therefore, there needs to be a regulation regarding the provision of annual health checks to ensure that the elderly are still able to work or not.
"There must be a guarantee if you really want to extend your working period to 70 years, I think there must be a guarantee like an annual medical check-up."
The reason is, if the elderly are forced to work while their conditions do not permit it, it will be counterproductive.
However, Dr. Novaria does not deny that working until old age can prevent the elderly from poverty or economic difficulties in old age.
The article was created based on the Healthy Monday program in collaboration between EMC Healthcare and Liputan6, with resource persons dr. Novaria Puspita, Sp.KFR, AIFO – K (Specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at EMC Sentul Hospital) & dr. Yhan Batista, Sp.PD (Internal Medicine Specialist at EMC Cibitung Hospital).