ALOR SETAR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Bernas Workers' Union (KPBM) has called on Padi Beras Nasional Berhad (Bernas) to extend the retirement age of its employees to 60 years from January next year.

Its president Mashitoh Abu Seman said the union had brought the matter to the management and was awaiting consideration by Bernas board of directors.

She said the request was made based on the union's study that all Bernas employees seconded from the National Rice and Padi Board would be due for retirement by 2015.

"Bernas now only recruits new employees on contract and many old staff in the company are due fore retirement from time to time," she said after the KPBM annual general meeting (AGM) here today.

The AGM was officiated by Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan.

At the opening of the AGM, Mashitoh handed a supporting memorandum to extend the retirement age from 58 to 60 years.