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Kolette Lim

A viral video of an interaction between a fitness influencer and an elderly toilet cleaner in Singapore has sparked discourse on the city state’s work culture for seniors.
In the Instagram clip, Jaden Laing, an Australian strongman, greets the older man, who is dressed in his work uniform, in a washroom. The latter shares that he is 91 years old and on a 12-hour shift that would end at 7pm.
“How are you so healthy?” asks Laing, who follows up with questions on the man’s exercise routine. The cleaner says he does not have one, except to “work, go back, sleep”.
Along with a hug and a squeeze on his shoulders, Laing gives the senior S$200 (US$150) in cash to buy lunch. As Laing exits, the cleaner offers a salute.












View this post on Instagram























A post shared by Jaden Laing (@jadentysonlaing)



The video, uploaded on September 29, quickly went viral, drawing more than 634,000 likes and over 6,200 comments on Instagram.
While many online users praised Laing’s generosity and the janitor’s work ethic, the clip also prompted discussion about elderly employment in Singapore, with some voicing concern over retirement security, while others argued that work can help seniors stay physically and mentally active.
Some social media users expressed concern that the video reflected a wider trend of seniors working in physically demanding jobs. One commenter wrote: “It always makes me so sad to see elderly people in Singapore still having to work hard in their old age! [They are] often in service jobs or even collecting cans for the recycling fee at food courts.”
Others took a more optimistic view, seeing employment as a way for older citizens to stay active and mentally sharp. “It is important to help [the] elderly find purpose in life by ensuring they can still contribute to society,” one user said.
On Reddit, however, the conversation revealed more mixed sentiments. One user said that if he had enough savings to retire, he would spend his time travelling or learning new skills such as cooking or baking. “It’s depressing that many seniors really don’t know what to do in life other than eat-work-sleep.”
In response, some users shared that their parents or relatives in their 60s had chosen to keep working – not out of financial need, but to avoid the boredom of retirement. One commenter observed: “Some of the older generation have a more ‘sacred’ mindset regarding work. To them, it is a purpose, not a means to an end like us.”
Singapore has one of Asia’s fastest-ageing populations, with the share of citizens aged 65 and above climbing steadily each year.
According to the government’s latest population report, about 789,600 residents were aged 65 and older as of mid-2025, accounting for roughly 20.7 per cent of the citizen population. That puts the city state on the brink of becoming a super-aged society – defined as one where more than 21 per cent of people are 65 or older – a threshold Singapore is expected to cross by 2026.

By 2030, the proportion of elderly citizens is projected to reach nearly one in four, or about 24 per cent – up from just 12.4 per cent in 2014.
At the same time, the old-age support ratio – which measures how many working-age residents, aged 20 to 64, there are for every person aged 65 and above – has declined to 3.3 in 2025, down from 4.3 in 2020 and 7.4 in 2010.
To address this, the government has introduced a range of measures to encourage active ageing, extend employability and improve retirement adequacy.
In 2022, the statutory minimum retirement age rose from 62 to 63 and the re-employment age from 67 to 68. Both will rise again in 2026, to 64 and 69 respectively, with a target of 65 and 70 by 2030.
Singapore’s broader social safety net includes the Silver Support Scheme, which provides quarterly cash supplements to lower-income seniors; the Workfare Income Supplement, which tops up wages and CPF savings for older and lower-wage workers; and the Progressive Wage Model, which sets mandatory pay scales in sectors such as cleaning. Employers also receive wage offsets under the Senior Employment Credit when hiring older workers.
Sociologist Tan Ern Ser, an adjunct principal research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, said jobs that match the physical capabilities of older workers could offer meaningful benefits.
“Having seniors who are healthy and somewhat self-reliant would mean less burden for their family and on the state, which could then free up more funds to help those in poor health and more in need of support,” Tan said.
He also emphasised the importance of financial planning for retirement. Having a paid-off home, sufficient savings in the Central Provident Fund (CPF) – Singapore’s compulsory savings scheme – and some support from one’s children would likely provide enough for a comfortable retirement, he said.
Those with little or no savings or family support, however, would probably need to rely on government assistance schemes, he added.

Recent public debate has also focused on the distinction between seniors working out of necessity and those doing so by choice. Workers’ Party lawmaker Jamus Lim highlighted this point in a Facebook post last week, citing elderly constituents who said they found it “hard to take time off” because continued employment was essential amid rising costs.
Government officials have said the aim is to support both groups – enabling seniors who wish to remain active to continue working while strengthening support for those who cannot.
At the Second Reading of the Workplace Fairness Legislation Bill on January 7, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said the government’s approach “provides the flexibility for older workers to work longer, but does not compel them to do so”. He added: “Those who do not wish to continue working need not do so.”
Similarly, at the National Day Rally on August 17, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong outlined his vision for a society where seniors can “age with dignity, purpose and joy”, and stressed the need to adapt employment and social policies to Singapore’s evolving demographics.


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Viral clip of 91-year-old Singaporean janitor sparks discussion on ageing and work

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The clip shows a fitness influencer giving US$150 to the cleaner, but it’s the elderly man’s 12-hour long shift that drew concerned comments


The clip shows a fitness influencer giving US$150 to the cleaner, but it’s the elderly man’s 12-hour long shift that drew concerned comments.


Viral clip of 91-year-old Singaporean janitor sparks discussion on ageing and work

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The clip shows a fitness influencer giving US$150 to the cleaner, but it’s the elderly man’s 12-hour long shift that drew concerned comments

The clip shows a fitness influencer giving US$150 to the cleaner, but it’s the elderly man’s 12-hour long shift that drew concerned comments