KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Minister of Labour and Social Security, Shahine Robinson, is encouraging employers to consider implementing phased retirement programmes.

The arrangement, she said, will allow employees to pass on skills and expertise to youngster colleagues, as they transition from full-time work into retirement.

“Let us examine the idea, rather than an abrupt retirement of skills, so that organisations can truly benefit. I believe this is worth exploring, particularly in the public sector where capturing knowledge, developing competencies, and creating leaders is vitally important,” she said.

 Robinson was speaking on Wednesday at the press launch of the 40th anniversary of the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) at the Church of God in Jamaica, Constant Spring Road in St Andrew.

Robinson explained that establishing a gradual retirement programme would not affect people seeking employment.

She said that people near retirement could stay on as part-time workers, or volunteers providing mentoring and training for staff.

“It could be done with a mentorship programme where someone would be there transferring the knowledge to young persons. I am sure that some of these persons would be more than willing to volunteer and to pass on the knowledge because that is so important… sometimes you go into offices and persons there are new and they would have benefitted significantly from somebody who had some institutional knowledge,” she pointed out.