Respond to multiple hot spots! Wang Xiaoping, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, interprets delayed retirement

On the afternoon of September 13, the General Office of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress held a press conference on the reform of delaying the statutory retirement age.

Wang Xiaoping (Source: Chinese Network)

Wang Xiaoping, minister of human resources and social security, said at a special press conference that the postponement of the statutory retirement age should be based on the actual development of the mainland, give full consideration to social concerns, reflect the principle of voluntariness and flexibility, and adopt a gradual approach. It has the following characteristics in the scheme design:

The first is to insist on small step adjustments and gradually put them in place. From 2025, it will take 15 years to gradually adjust the statutory retirement age for male employees to 63 years old, and the statutory retirement age for female employees to 58 years old and 55 years old respectively, and it will take a longer time to implement it in place.

The second is to adhere to flexible implementation and voluntary choice. Fully respect the wishes of employees, and under certain conditions, they can choose flexible early or flexible postponement of retirement, up to 3 years, and not lower than the original statutory retirement age.

The third is to adhere to the classification and orderly connection. The statutory retirement age for male and female employees will be launched simultaneously and differentially postponed, which will be in line with the current retirement age policy.

Fourth, adhere to overall planning and coordination. Encourage and support workers in employment and entrepreneurship, protect the basic rights and interests of all types of workers, and improve the old-age care service system.

Wang Xiaoping said that the gradual postponement of the statutory retirement age is closely related to the people. We will conscientiously implement the requirements of the decision, build consensus extensively, carefully organize and implement, and advance in a steady and orderly manner.

The gradual postponement of the statutory retirement age has three main tasks

Wang Xiaoping said: The measures adopted by the NPC Standing Committee have clearly defined the main tasks of gradually postponing the statutory retirement age, and they have the following aspects:

The first is to gradually postpone the statutory retirement age. From January 1, 2025, the statutory retirement age for male employees who were originally 60 years old will be postponed by one month every 4 months, and gradually extended to 63 years old; For female employees whose original statutory retirement age was 55 years old, the statutory retirement age will be postponed by one month every four months, and gradually extended to 58 years old; For female employees whose original statutory retirement age was 50 years old, the statutory retirement age will be postponed by one month every two months, and gradually extended to 55 years old.

The second is to gradually increase the minimum payment period. From January 1, 2030, it will take 10 years to gradually increase the minimum payment period for employees to receive a basic pension on a monthly basis from the current 15 years to 20 years, with an increase of 6 months per year.

The third is to implement a flexible retirement system. Employees who have reached the minimum payment period for pension can voluntarily choose flexible early retirement, with an advance period of up to 3 years, and the retirement age shall not be lower than the original statutory retirement age of 60 years old for male employees and 55 years old and 50 years old for female employees. If an employee reaches the statutory retirement age and the employer and the employee reach an agreement through consultation, he or she may flexibly postpone his or her retirement for a period of no more than 3 years.

Wang Xiaoping said that the measures also make policy arrangements for improving the incentive mechanism of old-age insurance, promoting employment, strengthening the protection of the rights and interests of groups such as workers who exceed the statutory retirement age, flexible employment and new forms of employment, early retirement of workers in special types of work and high-altitude areas, and improving the old-age care service system.

There are three main considerations for adjusting the statutory retirement age

Wang Xiaoping said that over the past 70 years or so, the mainland's economic, social and demographic structure has undergone major changes, and the needs of workers have become increasingly diversified, and the statutory retirement age needs to be adjusted. There are a few main considerations:

First, it will help promote the development and utilization of human resources. The average life expectancy in mainland China has increased from about 40 years in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China to 78.6 years at present. At the same time, the average number of years of education for the new labor force has increased from 8 years in the early days of reform and opening up to 14 years at present, and the starting age for joining the workforce has generally shifted backwards. Delaying the statutory retirement age can better release human resource dividends.

Second, it will help increase the effective supply of labor. In 2023, there will be 297 million people over the age of 60 in mainland China, accounting for 21.1% of the total population; There are more than 217 million people over the age of 65, accounting for 15.4%, and the aging trend is obvious. At the same time, the number of working-age population in mainland China has continued to decline since 2012, with an average annual decrease of more than 3 million, and the proportion of working-age population in the total population will further decrease in the future. Postponing the statutory retirement age can slow down the decline of the working-age population and maintain the momentum and vitality of economic and social development.

Third, it will help to meet the diversified needs of workers' working and living arrangements. With the continuous improvement of living standards and working conditions, workers have different demands for the early and late retirement time, hoping to have some flexibility and more choices, and the current retirement age policy needs to be adjusted accordingly.

Adjusting the statutory retirement age is a gradual process

Wang Xiaoping said that from 2025 to 2039, it will take 15 years to adjust the statutory retirement age to 63 for male employees and 58 or 55 for female employees, which is a gradual process.

Wang Xiaoping said that specifically, from January 1, 2025, male employees and female employees whose original statutory retirement age was 55 years old will be extended by one month every four months. The original statutory retirement age of 50 years old for female employees will be extended by one month every two months. Taking male employees as an example, if they reach the age of 60 from January to April next year, the retirement age will be 60 years and 1 month; For those who will reach the age of 60 between May and August next year, the retirement age will be 60 years and 2 months, and so on. On the whole, in this way, the progress is smaller, and the rhythm is gentle.

Wang Xiaoping said that everyone is very concerned about their specific retirement age after the reform. To this end, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress deliberated and passed the measures, has listed the postponement of the statutory retirement age comparison table, in the Chinese government network, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security website and official account, the national social security public service platform, electronic social security card and other platforms, the simultaneous launch of the retirement age inquiry applet, 12333 consultation telephone will also provide corresponding consulting services. You can inquire and learn through these channels.

It can be played forward or backward for a maximum of 3 years

Wang Xiaoping said: Adhering to voluntariness and flexibility is an important principle of this reform. In the process of soliciting opinions, everyone generally reflected that they hope to appropriately increase the choice of retirement time in order to better plan their future work and life. The Measures actively respond to social concerns by stipulating that employees can voluntarily choose flexible early retirement for a maximum of 3 years; If an employee reaches the statutory retirement age and the employer and the employee reach an agreement through consultation, he or she may flexibly postpone his or her retirement for a maximum of 3 years.

Wang Xiaoping said that there are several points that need to be explained: First, when employees handle flexible early retirement, they should reach the minimum payment period for pensions. Second, the age of flexible early retirement of employees cannot be lower than the original statutory retirement age, that is, male employees cannot be less than 60 years old, and female employees cannot be less than 55 years old or 50 years old. Third, in the implementation of the flexible retirement system, employees shall not be forced to choose a retirement age against their wishes.

Wang Xiaoping said that after the implementation of the postponement of the statutory retirement age, the retirement age of employees has been expanded from the original rigid node to a flexible range, increasing the space for free choice.

Source: Xinhua News Agency