MOST people would be thinking about retiring at 65 but Lam Kwan Shiang is planning to look for a job after he got a new lease on life, thanks to two free knee transplants.

Mr Lam, who had worked as a taxi driver for 30 years until 2014, told My Paper he had suffered from knee problems for 15 years.

He was starting to get bow-legged and could not sit for more than half an hour without experiencing severe pain in his knees when getting up.

“They would go ‘crack’,” he said.

He had tried taking glucosamine supplements, hoping they would relieve the pain, but that did not work.

A friend told him that he could get free knee transplants under private healthcare group Parkway Pantai’s Life Renewed programme for financially needy Singapore citizens and permanent residents, so he signed up for it.

“I was surprised it was free,” he said.

A typical total knee replacement costs between $21,000 and $25,000.

He underwent two separate surgeries, one for each knee, at Parkway East Hospital.

Mr Lam recalled being nervous for his first operation, on his left knee in 2014, as it was his first major surgery.

As he had excessive bleeding, the transplant for his other knee took place only in October last year.

He could walk five days after his first operation and three days after his second.

“Now, I can walk. I want to look for a job in one or two months when this knee recovers, maybe as a store supervisor,” he said.

“Sitting at home is very boring. I used to run cross-country when I was young. I can’t do that anymore but maybe now I can go jogging,” he added.

He was energetic and upbeat when My Paper visited his studio apartment in Tampines where he lives with his wife of more than 20 years, Jenny Ng, 59.

The pair do not work and have no children.

Mr Lam said his nieces and nephews give him some money.

The Life Renewed programme, which was launched in 2013, is supported by the Khazanah IHH Healthcare Fund. It has sponsored 166 medical treatments for financially needy Singaporeans and permanent residents.

Parkway East Hospital, which has done 15 total knee replacements under this scheme, is looking to sponsor five more cases of total knee replacements by Sept 30 this year.

To be eligible, applicants must be Singapore citizens or permanent residents with an average household income of less than $1,100.

Interested applicants may contact Parkway East Hospital at 6340-8680.

lydialam@sph.com.sg

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GUIDELINES on how ready-to-eat raw fish should be handled and prepared could be ready as early as the end of this month.

They are being put together by a group formed last December by the Food Standards Committee, managed by the Singapore Manufacturing Federation Standards Development Organisation (SMF-SDO).

The latter manages the development, promotion and implementation of standards and represents local industries in international standardisation efforts.

The move to produce the guidelines comes after demand for freshwater and saltwater fish, as well as ready-to-eat sushi and sashimi, was hit by Group B Streptococcus (GBS) cases.

Figures released last year showed that about 150 GBS cases last year were linked to an aggressive strain of bacteria known as Type III GBS Sequence Type 283. There were 355 cases of GBS infections and two deaths last year.

An SMF-SDO spokesman said: “The committee’s work will contribute to restoring consumers’ confidence in the consumption of ready-to-eat raw fish.”

There is currently no standardised way to handle and prepare ready-to-eat raw fish to prevent cross-contamination and bacterial growth across the food supply chain, he added.

This includes the transport, distribution, storage, handling, display and service of raw fish.

Businesses such as seafood manufacturer Fassler Gourmet, which sells many products including salmon, cod fish and tuna, have had their trade affected by the GBS cases.

During the Christmas period, sales fell by about 20 per cent compared with the year before, with only 100 platters sold, said Fassler chief executive Mellissa Chen.

“Even though the GBS scare was linked to freshwater fish, there was a perception that saltwater fish like salmon was affected too.”

The entities working on the guidelines include the Consumers Association of Singapore, food manufacturers, distributors, retailers and regulators.

The guidelines will eventually be part of a technical reference – a document that sets out standards for industry adoption – and is scheduled to be ready by the end of the year. To promote awareness of the technical reference, a launch event and workshops will be held.

Said infectious diseases specialist Hsu Li Yang: “It is probably worth having such guidelines, simply to restore consumer confidence.

“If consumers equate compliance with the guidelines to achieving similar standards of hygiene and safety, then I think it would be a positive thing for the industry.”

kcarolyn@sph.com.sg

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MORE people are remaining in the workforce beyond the official retirement age of 62, and the recontract age of 65.

More than 40 per cent of people aged 65 to 69 were still working last year, compared with just 24 per cent in 2006, according to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

Government policies, a tight job market and a rise in life expectancy and healthy years are among the factors for the spike.

Take the requirement for firms to re-hire workers aged 62 to 65. Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor, who is on the Ministerial Committee on Ageing, said: “Nearly all who approached 62 are offered re-employment.

“Most do not suffer any cut to their basic pay if they continue on the same job with the same job scope and responsibilities.”

In 2014, 98 per cent who continued working beyond age 62 did not suffer any basic wage cut, with about 10 per cent earning higher wages.

Life expectancy here has been going up by about three years every decade. In 2014, it was 801/2 years for men and 84.9 years for women.

As people live longer, they worry if they have enough for retirement, said David Ang, director of consultancy Human Capital Singapore.

With income, they remain financially independent and do not have to rely on children.

This boosts self-worth.

Many also realise that working even part-time keeps them socially and mentally engaged, said Singapore Management University’s labour economist Hoon Hian Teck.

Most employed Singaporeans and permanent residents over age 60 work as cleaners, labourers, machine operators, and service and sales workers, according to MOM statistics last year.

The Government has also made it more affordable for companies to hire older workers, Prof Hoon said.

Government subsidies for firms that hire workers aged 65 and above “send the message that companies can productively hire (seniors) in an increasingly labour-scarce economy”, he added.

The Workfare Income Supplement, introduced in 2007, has also helped older, low-wage workers.

Labour economist Walter Theseira at SIM University said: “Income for older workers are higher now than they were in the past.”

According to MOM, the median gross monthly income for resident workers 60 years and older increased from $1,160 in 2006 to $2,000 last year.

Because of the tight job market, employers have “to seriously consider older workers” as it is getting harder to employ foreigners, said Prof Theseira.

Last year, one in four people aged 65 and above was employed.

In 2006, this was 13.8 per cent. Mr Ang predicts that, by the next decade, the employment rate for senior citizens “will hit 30 per cent easily”.

With the changing demographics, firms have to adapt to remain productive.

Jobs are being redesigned and more firms look to offer more senior-friendly workplaces, he said. “The trend is to reduce fatigue while maintaining productivity.”

Cleaner Lee Kiong Mei, 67, a widow who has been at her job for five years, said it gives her purpose and makes her feel financially independent.

She said:”My children have their own families and living expenses can be expensive.

“Besides, I am happy at my job.”

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