Govt job entry age extended to 'align with global standards, empower women'

The Public Administration Reform Commission has recommended raising the maximum age for entering government jobs in the country, "considering the socio-economic aspects to align with global and regional standards" and to "give women a fairer opportunity to enter the workforce."

The commission appointed by the interim government made the recommendation today increasing the maximum age for applying for government jobs to 35 years for men and 37 years for women.

Currently, the age limit for entering government jobs is 30 years, while it is 32 years for the children of freedom fighters.

The commission chairman Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury said the final decision will be taken in the advisory council meeting regarding the age limit issue in the public service.

"We have recommended it considering the socio-economic aspects of the country. We have not discovered anything new. It exists in many countries of the world. It was taken into consideration that girls get priority in all aspects," he told reporters.

Amid the students' movement, the interim government formed a committee led by Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury on 30 September to determine a rational age limit for entering government jobs.

The committee was asked to submit a report within seven working days.

Why a higher age limit for women

The reform commission chairman highlighted that the decision to allow women an additional two years was made to address the unique challenges they face.

"Women often can't take competitive exams at the same age as men due to family obligations, marriage, and children. This recommendation is to ensure that more women can participate in government jobs," he said.

He further noted that despite quotas for women in government jobs, the numbers remain low.

"The proposal is intended to give women a fairer chance to enter the workforce," he added.

The commission's recommendation sets the general entry age limit at 35 for all candidates but extends it to 37 for women.

"The reason we proposed a higher age for women is to encourage more female participation. By allowing this flexibility, we hope to see more women sitting for exams and entering the civil service," Chowdhury explained.

Aligning with global and regional standards

Chowdhury said the commission's recommendation is in line with practices in neighbouring countries.

"We have consulted students and looked at the age limits in other countries. Our proposal aligns with global standards. Bangladesh is not doing anything extraordinary by considering this," he said.

Addressing concerns about the potential effect on the retirement age, the commission chairman clarified that they made no recommendations regarding extending the retirement age for current government employees.

"Those currently in service will retire based on the age rules that were in place when they joined. There is no immediate need to worry about retirement, as those who enter under the new age limit will only retire many years down the line," he said.

Job seekers and students have long been demanding an extension of the entry age for government jobs to 35. Their campaign gained momentum after protesters gathered in front of the residence of Interim Government Chief Adviser, Dr Muhammad Yunus, on 30 September.

The police used tear gas and sound grenades to disperse them, but the demonstrators persisted and later held a meeting with Yunus.

In response to the protests and growing demands, the Ministry of Public Administration formed a committee to review the age limit for government job applicants.

What experts say

Experts say job seekers who were previously unable to apply for government positions for various reasons will have additional opportunities to do so as a result of raising the age limit. On the other hand, this change could diminish the aspirations of young people to become entrepreneurs, as they may still be drawn to the appeal of government jobs.

Anu Muhammad, former professor of economics at Jahangirnagar University, told TBS, "Session jams in university academic activities and various other reasons cause students to age out. In this case, raising the age limit allows everyone to apply for government jobs, but it will also lead to increased competition."

He emphasised that more care should be taken in the job examination process. "If corruption in the recruitment examination can be prevented, it will benefit students overall," he added.

Dr Selim Raihan, executive director of the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (Sanem), said, "Around 90% of total employment is in the private sector. However, because job opportunities are not being created in the private sector, there is a strong attraction for youth toward government positions."

He added, "Only a small percentage of those who apply for government jobs actually secure employment, and in many cases, it can take years to get a job. They often do not explore other options. Raising the age limit may risk a segment of youth becoming trapped in this cycle, potentially diminishing their entrepreneurial spirit."