While the current public service retirement age is 55, some political parties have pledged to increase it to 60 to retain the experienced and knowledgeable workers in the workforce. However, a supporter of FijiFirst at one of the party’s campaign meetings, requested that the retirement age be reduced to 50 across the board. Why should that be? Zulfi kar Ali, of Omkar, Narere, Nasinu has his own reasons for it. “This would be for the betterment of youth to get the job,” Mr Ali said. “If I retire at 50 in the next fi ve years, someone else or my son can fi ll the gap because there are thousands of families struggling and young people would be able to get the job and help their families as well. “The retirement age at 50 would be very nice because it is half a century, another half century no one knows if we will be alive or not.” Mr Ali said those who retired at 55 were hardly able to enjoy their retirement money with their families. He said if people retired at 50 they would use their retirement money to improve their lifestyles and get their children’s needs and wants fulfi lled. “For example my father died at 57. He retired at 55 and only had two years and in those two years he never enjoyed any single cent of his money. “For the whole of his life my dad was just working and if people retire at 50, they would be able to enjoy their pension money and improve theirs and their families’ livelihood. “It becomes hard for only one person to earn but young members of the family should get educated and venture into business or get a job”