My wife wouldn't want to come here to say long term. Just turning 60, what would she do in a strange country away from her family? Not everyone wants to come to the UK. If it weren't for my pension even I wouldn't want to be here. I didn't return by choice but circumstances and you'll find that the overwhelming view of returning expats.

Once I get my current medical problem sorted out, I'd be willing to work though not for the type of work I'm being offered, or the rates. I wouldn't call the type of work offered ''opportunities,'' but yes, there is no shortage of dead end minimum wage jobs in a gig economy. Labour have said if they get in they'll abolish the gig economy and the slave like conditions it produces. Let's see.

No one expects state pensioners to work, thats why there is help for those on low pensions, Pension Credit, and housing/council tax benefits.

The NHS has lots of vacancies, as do the Civil Service, Local Government. Private firms want tech people, engineers etc.  Those aren't minimum wage, gig economy type jobs, unlike the ones my 16 year old granddaughter and her friends work in. They're part time in  cafes, bars, retail, hospitality etc., whilst they are continuing with the studies that will lead them to apprenticeships or universities, and ultimately reasonably well paid jobs.

There are skilled jobs available if you have a sought after skill. Otherwise it's retail, care homes or factories and the like. The old days of safe secure jobs have long gone and we're now throw away objects to be used and discarded. I suspect the ones cheering most for the gig economy are the ones who had a decently paid safe job years ago and are wondering why those in the gig economy can't do the same.
 
Agencies, minimum wage, sometimes zero contract hours ... If Labour do get in I hope they keep their promise and abolish this form of modern day slavery that's been going on for so long people are beginning to think it's normal.  

I'd be interested to see what well paid, permanent, low skilled jobs Labour create. 

More MPs, of course     

Government's don't create jobs, they oversee the playing field. There's a reason we have Health and Safety, the minimum wage and human trafficking (modern slavery Act, 2015) laws. They weren't implemented because they weren't needed. Hopefully, if Labour get in they would tighten up these laws.  

Well know if they did in a few years time. 

Quote from: Weapons Grade on September 10, 2023, 09:11:05 AMGovernment's don't create jobs, they oversee the playing field. There's a reason we have Health and Safety, the minimum wage and human trafficking (modern slavery Act, 2015) laws. They weren't implemented because they weren't needed. Hopefully, if Labour get in they would tighten up these laws. 

I applaud your optimism, unfounded though it is!  😂

Quote from: Weapons Grade on September 09, 2023, 10:41:58 AMOnce I get my current medical problem sorted out, I'd be willing to work though not for the type of work I'm being offered, or the rates. I wouldn't call the type of work offered ''opportunities,'' but yes, there is no shortage of dead end minimum wage jobs in a gig economy. Labour have said if they get in they'll abolish the gig economy and the slave like conditions it produces. Let's see.

It's not that easy to work after State Pension age, as I found out one day when, at the age of 73, I bowled up at the building site & was told I was too old for their insurers to cover me.

I was subcontracting at the time so technically I wasn't fired, my subcontract was terminated.

An acquaintance got fired from his household removals driving job when he turned 70. 

Quote from: JBR on September 10, 2023, 10:52:31 AMI applaud your optimism, unfounded though it is!  😂

It's why I said ''hopefully,'' but it can't go on like this. The economy wrecked by the covid scamdemic, sanctioning our energy supply and at near war with Russia. Anything has to be better than this.

September 10, 2023, 08:32:02 PM

Quote from: Diasi on September 10, 2023, 11:08:58 AMIt's not that easy to work after State Pension age, as I found out one day when, at the age of 73, I bowled up at the building site & was told I was too old for their insurers to cover me.

I was subcontracting at the time so technically I wasn't fired, my subcontract was terminated.

An acquaintance got fired from his household removals driving job when he turned 70.

I still get offers at 68, they're just ones I wouldn't accept.

Quote from: Weapons Grade on September 10, 2023, 08:30:36 PMIt's why I said ''hopefully,'' but it can't go on like this. The economy wrecked by the covid scamdemic, sanctioning our energy supply and at near war with Russia. Anything has to be better than this.

September 10, 2023, 08:32:02 PMI still get offers at 68, they're just ones I wouldn't accept.

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How do you live ? I imagine you won't get a full state pension with so many years out of the country.
Or did you carry on contributions ?

Quote from: Alex on September 10, 2023, 09:34:45 PM[/b]

How do you live ? I imagine you won't get a full state pension with so many years out of the country.
Or did you carry on contributions ?

I get pension credits, which are government/local government top ups to bring me up to near full pension level.
 
I obviously worked for decades in Britain, but didn't reach the full amount required. I never thought I'd be coming back so I didn't continue to pay in. I paid zero tax in Thailand and about five to six percent in China.
 
The only difference is that if I leave the UK for more than thirty days at a time my pension carries on, but my pension credits stop. Currently, with all the add-ons I get about £300 pw which isn't a fortune but I also have savings.

Quote from: Weapons Grade on September 11, 2023, 08:24:28 AMI get pension credits, which are government/local government top ups to bring me up to near full pension level.
 
I obviously worked for decades in Britain, but didn't reach the full amount required. I never thought I'd be coming back so I didn't continue to pay in. I paid zero tax in Thailand and about five to six percent in China.
 
The only difference is that if I leave the UK for more than thirty days at a time my pension carries on, but my pension credits stop. Currently, with all the add-ons I get about £300 pw which isn't a fortune but I also have savings.

I don't think you've missed out on much by not paying into a full pension & you certainly haven't missed out by, presumably, not having a private pension.

There are many thousands of people who've paid into a private pension scheme who are no better off than if they hadn't & had qualified for Pension Credit instead.

All they did was pay to save the DWP from paying them Pension Credit.

They should have used the money for new cars & holidays instead of scrimping to pay for their private pension.

Quote from: Diasi on September 11, 2023, 09:06:59 AMI don't think you've missed out on much by not paying into a full pension & you certainly haven't missed out by, presumably, not having a private pension.

There are many thousands of people who've paid into a private pension scheme who are no better off than if they hadn't & had qualified for Pension Credit instead.

All they did was pay to save the DWP from paying them Pension Credit.

They should have used the money for new cars & holidays instead of scrimping to pay for their private pension.

Exactly. My late father started a private pension in the 60s'. Paid in every week for the promise of £20 pw on retirement, which was a lot of money then. By the time he got to retirement it was worth practically nothing and they took £20 off his housing costs so he had to pay that from his 'private' pension. Pension credits are means tested.
 
The downside is that as an immigrant or if you're born here, you can spend your whole life not working or paying tax or N.I and still be able to retire on the same amount as everyone else.

If there's still a state pension in forty years time it's going to bleed Britain dry as the millions that are now flooding in and expecting a welfare state to care for them reach retirement age.

Quote from: Weapons Grade on September 11, 2023, 09:58:22 AMExactly. My late father started a private pension in the 60s'. Paid in every week for the promise of £20 pw on retirement, which was a lot of money then. By the time he got to retirement it was worth practically nothing and they took £20 off his housing costs so he had to pay that from his 'private' pension. Pension credits are means tested.
 
The downside is that as an immigrant or if you're born here, you can spend your whole life not working or paying tax or N.I and still be able to retire on the same amount as everyone else.

If there's still a state pension in forty years time it's going to bleed Britain dry as the millions that are now flooding in and expecting a welfare state to care for them reach retirement age.

And the real kicking given to those of us who reached State Pension age a few years ago was the change in the rules whereby new retirees get a higher basic State Pension for 10 years fewer NI contributions.

Plus the scrapping of the married couple's adult dependent allowance of £50 per week back in 2010.