Fine Arts officials oppose raising retirement age

The existing employment-extension conditions, which allow a first extension of four years and second and third extensions of three years each, were appropriate and had been used for several positions requiring special skills and expertise in traditional arts and crafts, she said.

The proposal, submitted to Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome, who oversees the Fine Arts Department, was made in the wake of a wave of retirements at the department - 480 positions at all 15 regional offices in the past two years. Each craftsman needs a minimum six years of service and special skill training in their area.

Somesuda, citing internal queries among department officials, said most of them did not opt for the 10-year extension but agreed with the three-step extension process already in place. If retirees were needed, they should be hired as contract workers on a case-by-case basis - however, the practice remains problematic due |to budget constraints and bureaucratic red tape, she admitted.