The Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Monday passed a Bill raising the retirement age of government employees from 58 to 60 years.
Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, who moved the Andhra Pradesh Public Employment (Regulation of age of superannuation) Amendment Bill, said the government had taken into account various factors, including the increased life expectancy, for raising the retirement age.
There was a significant improvement in the average life expectancy as compared to 1984. As per the World Health Organisation, the global average life expectancy in the year 2009 was 68 while it was 65 years in India.
The Central government raised the retirement age of its employees from 58 to 60 years in 1998, Mr. Naidu said.
Stating that his government was employment friendly, Mr. Naidu said it was proposed to avail the services of senior employees in view of their experience and expertise especially after bifurcation of the State.
He pointed out how doctors spent years studying and if they were to retire at 58 years it would be a loss to the government.
HolidayReferring to the agitation of employees against bifurcation of the State, the Chief Minister announced that the agitation period would be treated as holiday. He further assured provision of housing and health insurance scheme for both working and retired employees.
For the jobless youth, Mr. Naidu assured unemployment allowance of Rs. 2,000 per month.
