Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made these remarks during the APEC Meeting.
Longer lives mean more time for people to achieve their goals and aspirations, provided they remain healthy. And for countries with low replacement rates, having more elderly can make up for having fewer babies, especially if the older workers can achieve life-long employability, he added.
"We need to transform our societies and economies to become more age-friendly, and turn longevity into a positive force for economic and social development."
To minimise the burden of ageing and to maximise the contributions that old people can make and to make sure they feel an inclusive part of society and to strengthen the resilience in our community, Singapore is transforming in three ways.
1. Helping seniors stay active and healthy for longer.
The Government has plans to raise the re-employment age further, to 67 years old, and is also providing financial incentives for companies to make jobs and workplaces more senior-friendly.
Most recently, it launched the SkillsFuture initiative, which gives workers credits for courses they can take to upgrade themselves at any age.
2. Safety nets in housing, retirement adequacy and healthcare (Medishield Life) were also strengthened, to give seniors peace of mind, he added.
3. Infrastructure - in public transport, public housing, and parks - are being refreshed for the elderly to move around the city independently, confidently and freely.
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