Are handymen a fast-diminishing cadre in India? Need to reinstate the toolkit
Unaddressed for long, the people’s right to repair needs to be hammered home.
By ET Bureau |
iStock
British government is planning a revolutionary move to codify and implement a right that has gone unaddressed for too long: the right to repair.
It is a commentary on our times that the word toolkit no longer connotes anything remotely connected with old-fashioned screwdrivers, hammers and the like. It has become an anachronism in homes especially in the west as its contents are largely redundant.
Few things need the ministrations of drills or Allen keys any more: if something stops working or goes awry, the only recourse is to junk it. That is why the handyman has practically disappeared from quotidian life in the west, although, in India, we still have people who can fix, mend, overhaul, refit, service and patch up.
Even here, however, they are a fast-diminishing cadre, leading to higher piles of trashed gadgets every year, thanks to built-in obsolescence that ensures regular replacement sales.
So, it is heartening to note that British government is planning a revolutionary move to codify and implement a right that has gone unaddressed for too long: the right to repair.
Britons have been complaining that products do not last and cannot be fixed at home, and now they will have the right to repair what they buy and manufacturers will be legally obliged to make spare parts available to them.
The implications are important enough for India to consider it too: this right will extend the lifespan of products, reduce trash and revive the utility of the real toolkit, of course.
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China Wants To Increase Retirement Age; Other Countries That've Done The Same
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China’s retirement age has remained unchanged for more than four decades at 60 for men and 55 for female white-collar workers, but that may soon change. Trying to cope with a rapidly aging population, China’s ruling party is making a push to raise one of the world’s lowest retirement ages but has faced fierce backlash.
According to a Bloomberg report, tens of thousands of angry comments were posted on Weibo following the statement. Younger people argued that an increase in older workers would reduce their employment opportunities while those closest to retiring were angry at the prospect of delayed access to their pensions.
Whether China succeeds in raising the retirement age or not, here are some other countries who’ve employed higher retirement ages.
China’s retirement age has remained unchanged for more than four decades at 60 for men and 55 for female white-collar workers, but that may soon change. Trying to cope with a rapidly aging population..
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Japanese citizens are allowed to draw their pension at the age of 62 and this figure is set to rise to 65 years old by 2025, but most men often work until they’re 70.8, and women until the age of 69.1. In a bid to save money during the coronavirus pandemic, the number of companies in Japan offering early retirement plans has doubled during 2020, in some cases even allowing people in their 20s and 30s to be eligible, according to a study by Tokyo Shoko Research.
In South Korea also, men and women work on average more than 12 years longer than the official retirement age of 60, due to poverty.
Japanese citizens are allowed to draw their pension at the age of 62 and this figure is set to rise to 65 years old by 2025, but most men often work until they’re 70.8, and women until the age of 69...
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According to the Finnish Centre for Pensions for example, the norm across the European Union remains a retirement age of 65, while only three countries currently have a state pension age of 67 – Denmark, Italy and Greece. Germany plans to increase its state pension age to 67, but not until 2031.
In France, the official age of retirement is 62, which is among the lowest in OECD countries. Recently, the retirement age became a contentious issue as Prime Minister Édouard Philippe attempted to incentivise people to continue working until the age of 64, causing months of strike action by protestors.
According to the Finnish Centre for Pensions for example, the norm across the European Union remains a retirement age of 65, while only three countries currently have a state pension age of 67 – Denm..
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The average retirement age in Denmark is currently 67 and was set to increase to 68 by 2030. However, the Danish government recently floated a proposal to lower the retirement age to 61 years. “We will put in place a new scheme for those of you who have been in the workplace for the longest. For those who have paid their taxes throughout the professional life and did some of the toughest jobs,” said prime minister Mette Frederiksen in August. Under the new proposal, those who have worked 42, 43 or 44 years will have the right to retire one, two or even three years before the state pension.
The average retirement age in Denmark is currently 67 and was set to increase to 68 by 2030. However, the Danish government recently floated a proposal to lower the retirement age to 61 years. “We wi..
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The official retirement age is 65 years but most people actually retire several years before through early retirement schemes, and the average effective age for men is 61.6 years old, while women tend to leave work just at 60.5. The country’s historically generous state pension scheme was shaken up in 2011, when the early retirement age was increased to 62 and workers were forced to contribute for 40 years.
The official retirement age is 65 years but most people actually retire several years before through early retirement schemes, and the average effective age for men is 61.6 years old, while women ten..
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In contrast, the Polish government slashed its official retirement age from 67 to 65 for men and 60 for women in 2017 which is closer to the reality on ground. Most male Poles actually work until they are 62.8, whereas Polish women stop work at 60.6 on average.
In contrast, the Polish government slashed its official retirement age from 67 to 65 for men and 60 for women in 2017 which is closer to the reality on ground. Most male Poles actually work until the..
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The official retirement age in Spain is being gradually increased from 65 to 67 by 2027. The government had been under pressure to keep people working longer to cut public spending. Unions threatened to strike over the rise, but caved in after the government said workers could still retire at 65 if they had made at least 37 years’ worth of contributions.
The official retirement age in Spain is being gradually increased from 65 to 67 by 2027. The government had been under pressure to keep people working longer to cut public spending. Unions threatened..
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The Australian government increased the official pension age in 2017: people born before 1952 can retire at 65.5, but those born after that face gradual increases until it reaches 67 in 2023. The Liberal Party had tried to increase the retirement age to 70, but other parties shied away from an even bigger hike.
The Australian government increased the official pension age in 2017: people born before 1952 can retire at 65.5, but those born after that face gradual increases until it reaches 67 in 2023. The Lib..
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Men and women in Ireland can both draw their pension from 66, with most men retiring once they turn 65.6, while women leave work earlier at the age of 64.1 on average. The retirement age is due to rise to 68 from 2028, which will make it one of the highest in the world.
Men and women in Ireland can both draw their pension from 66, with most men retiring once they turn 65.6, while women leave work earlier at the age of 64.1 on average. The retirement age is due to ri..
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Norway’s state pension age has been 67 for men and women since the 1970s, but most men stop working at the age of 66.1 and women even earlier at 64.1.
Norway’s state pension age has been 67 for men and women since the 1970s, but most men stop working at the age of 66.1 and women even earlier at 64.1.
