The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security - Studies on Specific Reform Proposals for Delaying Retirement

The current statutory retirement age in the PRC is 60 for all male employees, 55 for female trained professionals and 50 for other female workers. This was determined in 1953, during the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, on the basis of average life expectancy, working conditions, employment methods and other factors at the time.

Following the reform and opening up of the PRC, there is a need to review statutory retirement ages to reflect current average life expectancy rates and trends in China’s demographic structure. This will increase and better utilize China’s available labour supply to meet increasing demand for human resources.

Local opinion on the retirement age reforms are divided. Many employees are opposed to changes in the retirement age, citing concerns over their physical decline and difficulties in securing suitable employment in their later years, while others see the benefits of being able to continue working to increase their nest eggs for retirement.

Acknowledging that this represents a significant shift for China’s workforce, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has stated that it will actively listen to opinions and suggestions from all parties in the process of researching and formulating the reform plan. The objective is to build social consensus, to ensure that the plan is feasible, and to align the plan with the needs of employees and society as a whole.