Khaberni - A video of an elderly sanitation worker in Singapore, who is 91 years old and works daily for 12 hours, has sparked wide interaction and social debate about work culture and the elderly in the country.
The story began when Australian fitness coach Jyden Laing posted a video on "Instagram" documenting his encounter with the elderly worker inside a public restroom in Singapore.
During their friendly conversation, the worker told the young man that he is 91 years old and works a shift that extends until 7 PM, which amazed followers who admired his vitality and ability to perform strenuous work despite his advanced age.
Laing asked the man about the secret to his good health despite his long work hours, to which he simply replied: "I work, I go home, and I sleep."
At the end of the encounter, the coach hugged the worker and gave him 200 Singapore dollars (about 150 US dollars) as a symbolic aid to buy lunch, with the man reciprocating the greeting with a moving military salute.
The clip, which was published on September 29, has garnered millions of likes and thousands of comments, ranging from praise for the worker’s spirit of giving and perseverance, to admiration for the Australian's humanity, and broad discussions about the reality of the elderly in the Singaporean labor market.
Some commentators felt that the continuation of the elderly in demanding jobs out of necessity is saddening, while others considered that work represents a way to maintain physical and mental activity and gives seniors a sense of purpose and belonging.
Users also shared stories about their parents who chose to work voluntarily post-retirement to avoid feelings of isolation or boredom.
These discussions come in the context of warnings about the accelerating pace of aging in the Singaporean society, as official data indicates that about 20.7% of the population is now over the age of sixty-five, a rate expected to rise to 24% by 2030, placing the country on the brink of becoming a "super-aged society".
