Beijing – A senior government official said on Monday in Beijing that more than 13.12 million new jobs were generated for urban residents in China in 2015.
Yin Weimin, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, told a news conference that China had created more than 13 million new jobs for urban residents annually since 2013, though the reading for 2015 was down 0.8 percent from the year before.
He also revealed that China would soon release a plan to raise the retirement age this year to cope with pressures from a shrinking work force and an aging society.
Weimin said the official retirement age, which was adopted six decades ago when life expectancy was much lower, has not adapted to economic and social development.
“China’s retirement age is 60 for men, 55 for female white-collar workers and 50 for female blue-collar employees.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“The retirement ages in developed countries mostly range from 60 to 65, and even older in some countries.
“It has been common practice to raise the retirement age worldwide,’’ he said.
Weimin said the ministry has worked out a plan to postpone the retirement age, but needed the authorities’ approval before being released to solicit public opinion.
The minister said the policy changes in retirement age would be phased in over a long period of time, with only slight annual increases.
He added that the adjustment would also take into consideration different groups of workers.
He noted that China is facing great challenges in dealing with a soaring senior population.
He said the number of people aged 60 or over reached 212 million last year, accounting for 16 percent of the country’s population. (Reuters/NAN)