"They are trapped at the age of 35", what is the new way to break the age discrimination?

[China New Observation] "They are trapped at the age of 35", what is the new way to break the age discrimination?

　　China News Service, March 3 (Reporter Li Jinlei) When job hunting will no longer be trapped by age, it is a doubt in many people's minds, and it is also a question that deputies to the National People's Congress and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference have to solve.

　　It is recommended not to use age as the red line for recruitment and dismissal, and it is recommended that some positions be tilted towards groups over the age of 35... Recently, a number of suggestions aimed at solving age discrimination have been on the hot search.

Age Discrimination Behind the 35-Year-Old Workplace Crisis

　　Age discrimination is a hot topic of social concern.

In recent years, the concept of "human resources" before the age of 35 and "human cost" after the age of 35 has prevailed. The "35-year-old career line" has become a daunting hurdle for many people.

　　The 35-year-old crisis even has early signs.

According to media reports, some companies set 30 years old as the upper age limit when recruiting, causing many job seekers to repeatedly hit the wall when applying for overage.

　　Lu Guoquan, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and director of the General Office of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, said that the age of 35 seems to be a "glass door", which makes some people face difficulties in job hunting, mobility, promotion and re-employment.

　　A national survey conducted by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions in 2022 shows that 54.1% of employees in the 35-39 age group are worried about losing their jobs, 70.7% are worried about skills becoming obsolete, and 94.8% feel stressed, all of which are the highest proportions among all age groups.

　　Some companies think that 35 years old means a decline in work enthusiasm and work energy, while ignoring the human support and resource experience reserves required for industrial transformation and upgrading.

Lu Guoquan pointed out that the "35-year-old workplace threshold" runs counter to the trend of social development, which can easily lead to a waste of talents and gaps in the job market, increase the anxiety of workers, and cause a series of economic and social problems.

On-site data map of the job fair.

Photo by Zhang Haiwen

What are some new ways to break down age discrimination?

　　Behind the hot discussion is the public's desire to break down age discrimination.

　　The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China emphasized that unreasonable restrictions and employment discrimination that affect equal employment should be eliminated, so that everyone has the opportunity to realize their own development through hard work.

The 2022 government work report proposes to resolutely prevent and correct gender, age and other employment discrimination, and focus on solving prominent problems that violate the legitimate rights and interests of workers.

　　How to break down age discrimination?

Lu Guoquan suggested that we should increase anti-age discrimination employment legislation and law enforcement supervision, strengthen employment services for middle-aged and elderly workers, accelerate the cultivation of a labor market where people can give full play to their talents, and accelerate the construction of a friendly society for middle-aged and elderly workers.

——Require that age should not be used as a red line for recruitment and dismissal

　　Lu Guoquan believes that it is necessary to strengthen the protection of the legal system, clarify the criteria for judging age discrimination in employment, increase the operability of regulatory penalties, provide equal employment protection for workers of all ages, and require employers not to use age as a red line for recruitment, promotion or dismissal.

For employers' visible or intangible age restriction practices, strengthen labor administrative supervision and public supervision, and increase punishment.

——Proposal to subsidize the employment of a certain proportion of middle-aged and elderly workers

　　Lu Guoquan suggested that explore the establishment of an incentive mechanism for the recruitment of middle-aged and elderly workers, and provide certain subsidies to a certain proportion of employers.

Explore the establishment of entrepreneurship funds for middle-aged and elderly workers or unemployment insurance funds for middle-aged and elderly workers, and create opportunities for them to improve their capabilities and update their knowledge.

——It is recommended that some positions be inclined to groups over the age of 35

　　Jiang Yaodong, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and former vice president of China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), said in an interview with the media that the labor force around the age of 35 is the "new force" in the workplace, and has great development potential and room for improvement.

Enterprises and institutions should consider the characteristics and age matching of different types of work in light of the actual situation. For some positions that require rich experience and experience, they should be inclined to groups aged 35 and above.

——Exploring the release of the 35-year-old limit for civil service examinations

　　Lu Guoquan suggested that agencies and units should play a leading and exemplary role, explore the relaxation of the 35-year-old limit for civil service examinations, and promote the formation of a good social custom and positive psychological expectations that respect middle-aged and elderly employees.

　　Zhongxin Finance has noticed that the 35-year-old limit for civil service examinations has changed in many places this year.

According to media reports, in recent years, about 10 provinces have adjusted the age of some posts to below 40 years old.

"10 provinces relax the 35-year-old age limit for civil servants" has also been on the hot search recently.

　　Feng Wenmeng, director of the Research Office of the Public Administration and Human Resources Research Institute of the Development Research Center of the State Council, told reporters from China News Service that government agencies and institutions can play a leading and exemplary role in breaking down age discrimination.

Civil service examination data map.

Photo by Wu Junjie

Labor and employment should be prepared to adjust to the aging

　　The Ninth National Workforce Survey conducted by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions shows that the current total number of employees in the country is about 402 million, with 84 million new employment forms and 293 million migrant workers; the average age of employees is 38.3 years old, and the average number of years of education is 13.8

. Year.

　　Feng Wenmeng believes that as the degree of aging continues to deepen, the average age of the entire working-age population will rise, which requires future labor employment to be adjusted to be more age-friendly and more suitable for middle-aged and elderly workers.

　　In Feng Wenmeng’s view, in order to get rid of age discrimination, on the one hand, it is necessary to strengthen supervision and strengthen the protection of laborers’ rights and interests; , consider giving tax incentives, subsidies, etc. to encourage employers to hire middle-aged and elderly workers.

　　Feng Wenmeng suggested that the skills training and improvement mechanism can be further improved and improved. Through enterprise training, government subsidies and other incentives, the skill level of workers can be maintained in a state of sustainable improvement, and constantly adapt to new employment needs and new skill needs.

At the same time, workers should also cultivate and establish a sense of lifelong learning, and continuously improve their personal human capital and skills.

(over)