Beijing, China – In a landmark move, China has announced plans to raise its retirement age for the first time in decades, as the nation grapples with declining birth rates and an increasingly aging population. The decision, disclosed on Friday, aims to address the pressing issues affecting the world’s second-largest economy.

Legislative approval and implementation

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislative body, has approved a draft proposal to gradually implement the retirement age changes, state media reported. The retirement age, which has been unchanged since the 1950s, is among the lowest globally.

Starting January 1 of next year, the statutory retirement age will be incrementally increased over a 15-year period. For men, the retirement age will rise from 60 to 63. Women in white-collar jobs will see their retirement age go from 55 to 58, while women working in factories will retire at 55 instead of 50.

According to a chart published by Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency, those born in 1965 will experience a one-month delay in retirement. Meanwhile, individuals born in 1984 could face up to a five-year extension before they can retire.

Public reaction and economic concerns

The proposed changes have sparked widespread debate across China since their introduction earlier this year. Young people face fierce competition in the job market, and mid-career workers are experiencing layoffs as the Chinese economy recovers more slowly than anticipated after three years of pandemic-induced isolation.

“So after 60, we still have to squeeze onto the bus with the young folks?” read one comment on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform. “Asking for time off for your 60th birthday? And if you die at your desk, would it count as a workplace injury?”