Topic 1: Does increasing travels between countries enable people to learn different cultures or to

Topic 72: With the ageing of society, we are now beginning to see a growing interest in 
further abolishment of mandatory retirement. Do you think that mandatory retirement 
is obsolete or should be sustained?
(compulsory retirement/ fixed retirement age
(a waste of human resources) ;
(assist training young workers)
(insult); ( discriminate against people on the grounds of age) ;
(lead to the shortfall in capital )
(retirement will become a point of dispute, rather than something that can happen harmoniously 
and smoothly) ;
(accept innovative ideas), 
(expect the final years of their life to be less pressured) 
Mandatory retirement is a prominent issue raised by the continued expansion of the aged 
population. The notion that the older people should be forced out of employment because of 
age is set to become obsolete. However, the paradox is that a fixed retirement age is still 
being widely adopted by many employers as usual, either overtly or impliedly. My opinion is 
that the ways people look at older people as a section of the workforce should be subject to 
modification, in a world where the growth of the ageing population is a clear trend.
Due to improved diet, higher incomes and medical advances, people nowadays live longer. 
The ongoing increase in the life expectancy leads to the subsequent extension of working 
lives. It comes as no surprise that productivity and intellectual ability of workers would 
remain the same as they approach age 65 and in the years beyond. Meanwhile, older 
employees have a wealth of experience and specialized knowledge they have obtained 
throughout their decades-long working lives. All stand them in good stead, despite their 
slightly reduced physical abilities. The age prejudice is therefore unjustified, causing 
businesses to lose a major source of expert personnel.
Another disadvantage of mandatory retirement is the difficulty in finding qualified 
replacements for senior employees who have retired. Contrary to popular belief, senior 
employees are unlikely to impede promoting young employees. Instead, they ensure the 
consistency of staff training of an organization. Many senior employees are willing to stay on 
the junior jobs and earn less when they reach retirement age. Besides, their leadership is 
essential to the improvement of younger employees' skills. With senior employees, a 
corporation guarantees the diversity of perspectives and minimizes the risk of relying on 
impetuous decisions made by young, inexperienced employees.
Despite those justifications for longer working lives, working in later life might not be 
aligned with the interest of all older people. For blue-collar workers, their choice is very 
limited. They are either forced out because of ill health or tired of working days and nights. In 
many instances, despite being able to work, the majority of senior people prefer retirement, or 
at least working shorter hours. Income has failed to be an effective incentive, compared to 
being part of society and contributing to the society in later life. For this reason, retirement 
should be made a voluntary option to the senior.
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Based on the above-mentioned arguments, one can conclude that the changing 
demographics have lent support to rising the age of retirement or just abolishing mandatory 
retirement. It is in line with the extended life expectancy and in employers' favour, although it 
is up to older peoples themselves in deciding whether to retire or not. 
1. Paradox=contradictory aspect
2. Modification=adjustment=adaptation=alteration
3. Life expectancy=lifespan
4. Impede=obstruct=hinder=hamper=hold back
5. Impetuous=impulsive=reckless=heedless
6. Aligned with=in line with
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