Sir, - A side effect of our current economic boom is that it is now impossible to find workers willing to take on certain types of employment - shop work, cleaning, gardening, labouring, catering etc. At the same time there are thousands of retired men and women who would like to work in order to supplement their pensions or to occupy some of their time. But they are deterred by the prospect of paying tax or losing social assistance (non-contributory pension).
Would it not be a good idea to tempt able pensioners into low-paid part-time jobs by introducing a tax exemption and benefit retention scheme for retirees engaging in specified employment? Surely such a scheme would ease the employment situation, hold back wage inflation in areas of unskilled work and improve the quality of life for many of our younger senior citizens. - Yours, etc.,
Douglas Bain, Newcastle Middle, Co Wicklow.