Senior Citizens in Thailand

[Isaan Rollie]

A Survey of the Situation of Older Persons in Thailand

The number of working older persons in Thailand is on the rise. The National Committee on Older Persons, in its recent meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula, heard a report on a survey of the situation of older persons in Thailand.

The report was prepared by a subcommittee under the National Committee on Older Persons. It indicates that the number of senior citizens in 2005 was 6.4 million, representing 10.2 percent of the country’s total population. Senior citizens, or older persons, are defined as those aged 60 and over.

According to the survey conducted last year, older persons in Thailand earned a monthly income of 4,919 baht on average, a decline from 5,535 baht recorded in 2004. The number of working senior citizens rose from 30.3 percent of the population in 2001 to 37.1 percent in 2005. Concerning their health, 50 percent of the aging population suffers from chronic diseases, such as heart disease, coronary, arthritis, diabetes, gastro-enteritis, and respiratory problems.

The survey found that 7.1 percent of elderly people live alone. Three out of four are literate. Various organizations have been providing them with useful information, focusing on health promotion. More information is required about employment, job placement, access to rights of security, and how to live in a family and community with persons of different generations.

The Government is pushing for the establishment of multi-purpose centers for older persons in various communities. At the initial stage, the centers will be set up in four provinces, namely Bangkok, Chiang Mai in the North, Phatthalung in the South, Nong Khai in the Northeast, and Nonthaburi in the central region.

A rapidly ageing population is likely to pose a great challenge for the Government. It is expected that the number of older persons in Thailand will reach 10.8 million, accounting for 15.3 percent of the entire population in the next 20 years. Since the health of Thai people is improving significantly, older persons now live longer, with life expectancy increasing to more than 70 years. As a result of the changing demographic trends, the Government needs to be prepared to deal with an aging society in the future.

The Social Security Office established a pension fund for the ageing workforce in 1999. It will start paying to pensioners in 2014, when 11 billion baht will be paid to more than 150,000 persons on a monthly basis, while over 6,000 persons will be given a lump sum. The great number of eligible pensioners is likely to affect the pension fund’s financial stability in 2047, or the next 40 years.

In order to cope with this financial problem, the Social Security Office is thinking of raising the retirement age to more than 55 years. Several labor experts have suggested that the retirement age be extended to 65 years. The extension will help ease labor shortages, and many older persons also want to continue working after they reach the mandatory retirement age.

Source: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownew ... 0000001969