A Comparative Study of Legal Measures for the Employment of Older Workers in Thailand, Japan, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea.
Keywords:
Older Worker Employment, Aging Society, Legal MeasuresAbstract
This research article aimed to examine and comparatively analyze the legal measures for the employment of older workers in Thailand, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, with the ultimate goal of proposing appropriate legal development guidelines for Thailand. This qualitative study employed documentary research, utilizing comparative content analysis through the theoretical lens of regulatory theory.
The findings revealed that the case study countries had implemented concrete laws to support the employment of older workers, yet they exhibited distinct structural differences. Japan and Singapore had enacted specific legislation focusing directly on retirement management and re-employment, whereas South Korea integrated its measures within age anti-discrimination laws. These three nations utilized a combination of command-and-control regulations, incentives, and varying enforcement mechanisms (social, criminal, and civil sanctions) tailored to their institutional contexts. Conversely, Thailand differed significantly as it lacked such specific legislation, relying merely on general labor protection laws combined with voluntary tax incentives. This absence resulted in ambiguous practices and job insecurity for older workers.
Additionally, the research recommended that Thailand draw lessons from these nations to design and enact specific legislation for the employment of older workers. The proposed legislative framework encompassed mandatory minimum retirement ages, flexible re-employment contracts, targeted employer subsidies, and proportional sanctions. Such a framework was deemed essential to strike a balance between enhancing the quality of life for older workers and maintaining the competitiveness of the business sector.
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