A Right to Work and a Right to Retire

Image by Alex E. Proimos via Flickr

It is an ironic and sickening thought to many who are looking for a retirement at the age of sixty five only to discover that in 2005 it was put up to sixty eight by 2046. Now Lord Howard has used a calculation to say that it should or will be put up to Seventy years before those can claim the state pension in Britain.

One must realise that it is only due to the longer lives people are living and the financial burden put on this Country’s Pensions Pot. However with many wanting to retire at sixty five the Government would only be increasing the unemployment rate especially for those wishing to learn and create skills so vital for the financial stability of this country and any other country doing the same.

I know that there are many who will wish to carry on what they are doing and hold the key skills and the quality that many young and inexperienced workers do not. But Governments and businesses must respect both by giving workers the choice rather than enforcing, encouragement and guidance is a key to getting a balance. They must not forget that these employees will work for their living with an objection to have a wage to support them when they are too old to work.

Even if it meant one investing more advance contributions into their national pensions, they should still have the option to receive their pension earlier. This would open another job opportunity for someone else.

I for one look forward to hanging up my tools when I am sixty five, so that I can enjoy my hobby of Art, Writing and development and archery. There is so much to enjoy and you only live once and hopefully I will live long enough to enjoy that time.

It is only now that with the scandals within our Parliament and corrupt Members making crucial errors that are causing people who are planning to retire now, to carry on working because their pensions aren’t worth the paper they are written on because of the cost of living. This is with the cost of the pound to other currencies and the desire of certain politicians like Peter Mandleson, Gordon Brown and Alistaire Darling devaluing our currency enough to do away with the pound.

If this is the situation now what hope have the further generations got in the future?