‘Try and see’ retirement scheme tabled

SENIOR civil servants will this afternoon debate the introduction of a scheme that would allow public servants to try out early retirement for a year — and return if they don’t like it.

The Justice and Law Reform branch of the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (AHCPS) has tabled a motion at its annual conference which calls for a scheme of “provisional retirement”.

“Public servants aged over 50 and eligible for early retirement could apply for a 12-month absence from work on the same terms and conditions as would apply if they retired,” the motion reads.