"The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security is working with relevant departments to study specific reform plans for delaying retirement." The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security stated publicly on the 26th.
Immediately, "delayed retirement really came" became a hot topic of public opinion.
In fact, because it involves everyone's work and life, the topic of delaying retirement has always been the focus of social attention.
It is foreseeable that at the upcoming National Two Sessions, the popularity of this topic may continue.
Why implement delayed retirement?
The current legal retirement age in China is 60 for male employees, 55 for female cadres, and 50 for female workers.
Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security You Jun said at a press conference of the State Council Information Office on the 26th that this regulation was determined in the early days of the founding of New China based on the average life expectancy, working conditions, and employment methods at that time. Great changes have taken place in the economy and society, and the problem of the overall low retirement age has become very prominent.
The picture shows retired teachers from a college in Nanjing participating in the activity.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Yang Bo
Statistics show that as of the end of 2019, there were approximately 254 million people aged 60 and over in China, accounting for 18.1% of the total population. It is expected that the elderly population will exceed 300 million during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period.
China is facing a development trend from a mild aging to a moderate aging stage.
Mao Zongfu, a representative of the National People's Congress and director of the Global Health Research Center of Wuhan University, said in an interview with a reporter from Chinanews.com that, unlike developed countries that first industrialize, have a certain amount of wealth accumulation and then age, China is aging while industrializing.
"This is due to many factors such as China's large population and the increase in life expectancy."
Statistics show that China's average life expectancy has increased to 77.3 years by 2019, and the average life expectancy of urban residents has exceeded 80 years.
Therefore, in the context of an increase in average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, delaying retirement is regarded as an important measure to overcome the shortage of labor supply and tap human resources in an aging society.
Song Xiaowu, the former president of the China Society for Economic System Reform, recently stated publicly to the media that compared with the past, working conditions have been greatly improved, and hard, dirty, and tired labor is gradually being replaced by machinery.
"Under such circumstances, for the elderly, delaying retirement can better realize their potential and make greater contributions to society."
On the other hand, experts believe that the introduction of delayed retirement is related to the status quo of labor supply and demand in China.
The number of working-age population in China has declined since 2012, with an average annual decrease of more than 3 million, and the rate of decrease is increasing.
Data Map: Job seekers apply for jobs in the talent market.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Chen Chuhong
Among the newly-increased labor force, the proportion of people who have received higher education has exceeded half, and the average years of education have been continuously extended, reaching 13.7 years, and the age at which they started working has been delayed accordingly.
This shows that the current retirement age does not adapt to changes in labor supply and demand, and it also causes a waste of human resources.
In addition, from the perspective of population support rate, the implementation of delayed retirement age is also important and urgent.
Zheng Bingwen, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and director of the World Social Security Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, recently publicly stated that China’s insured support rate and paid support rate in 2019 are 37.7% and 47%, respectively. If the current policy is not adjusted, the insured support rate will be as low as 2050. The contribution support rate will exceed 81% and 96.3% respectively; however, if a gradual reform plan is adopted, eventually men will retire at the age of 65 and women will retire at the age of 60. By 2050, the insured and contribution support rates are expected to be 51.4% and 65.5%.
The United Nations once designated 1999 as the "International Year of Older Persons" and called for the establishment of a society for all ages.
Tian Xueyuan, a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, also pointed out that the delay in retirement reflects respect for the labor rights of the elderly who have the ability to work, and reflects the concept of equality before work.
How to implement delayed retirement?
From an international point of view, delaying the retirement age is a common practice in all countries in the world to deal with the aging of the population, but countries have different regulations in terms of retirement age setting and pension financial security.
On the basis of drawing on foreign experience and considering China's national conditions, many experts have proposed that "selective retirement" can be used as a policy arrangement for the initial transition stage.
Picture old man profile map.
Source: Visual China
"The essence of selective retirement is to delegate the autonomy of retirement age selection to individuals, and to strengthen effective incentives for individuals to independently choose to delay retirement through the pension adjustment mechanism." Chi Fulin, Dean of China (Hainan) Reform and Development Research Institute The symposium pointed out that it should be encouraged to choose different retirement ages and pension receiving plans according to their own circumstances. If workers choose to retire before the normal retirement age, a certain percentage of pension will be deducted, and retirement will be delayed after the normal retirement age. Then increase a certain percentage of pension.
"Selective retirement" has both flexibility and autonomy. Although the "one size fits all" statutory retirement age is cancelled, it is still necessary to set a normal retirement age as a basic reference for independent choice.
Tian Xueyuan believes that it is possible to only set the starting age for postponement, without setting an upper age limit; when the starting age is reached, whether to postpone or how long the postponement is to be decided by the worker and the employer through consultation; there is no upper limit age for postponement. The worker and the employing unit shall sign a contract for postponement including the working hours based on subjective and objective conditions.
In addition, some scholars call for the establishment of a step-by-step implementation of a timetable for selective retirement ages for men and women based on the actual situation in China, adhere to the principles of fairness and special principles for different occupations and groups, and take the lead in high-skilled and high-human capital industries. Promote independent and selective delay of retirement.
According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, it is currently working with relevant departments to study specific reform plans. It is necessary to learn from international practices and experiences, and to fully consider China's actual national conditions. In the process of research and formulation of the plan, opinions from all parties will be widely listened. Ensure that the plan is scientifically feasible and smoothly implemented.
Do a good job in the article
In the process of aging, how to make better use of the wealth of the elderly and change "passive" to "active" has become a starting point for delaying the introduction of the retirement policy. There is also much to be done about "the elderly have something to do".
Mao Zongfu said that it can guide some elderly people with good physical conditions, rich work experience, and willingness to re-employment to "mobilize", set up a flexible working system for the elderly and allow remote office work; it can also guide the elderly to participate in social welfare undertakings, such as Work as a tour guide in tourist attractions, participate in joint construction, co-governance and sharing in community and village public welfare positions.
Anhui Wuhu Huaqiang Community Elderly Activity Center.
Photo by reporter Zhang Kaixin
At present, Internet technology has been widely used in all aspects of life, and the “blessing” of science and technology is indispensable for well-prepared articles on “Being good for the elderly”. The smart elderly care industry that leverages Internet, Internet of Things, big data and other technologies is also helping The elderly "moved" to escort.
Yang Rong, deputy director of the Sanqiao Police Station of the Xinghualing Branch of the Public Security Bureau of Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, and the Jingangli Community Policeman, told the China News Network reporter that in actual work, we often encounter various situations involving the elderly, such as Children are not around, gas and water pipes are forgotten to turn off, etc. Some old communities do not have the conditions to build tables for the elderly, day care centers and other elderly service institutions.
To this end, Yang Rong suggested establishing a data standard system for health and elderly care, integrating health data and elderly care data to form a unified information resource database, which not only facilitates the accuracy of doctors’ diagnosis, uses big data to track and count medication usage, but also facilitates elderly care institutions to understand, Grasp the health information of the elderly.
The combination of medical and elderly care has also become a direction to deal with an aging society.
Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and director of the Department of Geriatrics of Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Huang Gairong, told reporters that hospitals at all levels should attach great importance to the construction of geriatrics, which is not only an effective supplement to private elderly care, but also hopes to alleviate many problems caused by population aging.
Take the "Comprehensive Evaluation of the Elderly" software system of the Henan Provincial People's Hospital where Huang Gairong is located as an example. As long as all departments of the hospital admit patients over 65 years of age with multiple diseases, the Department of Geriatrics will participate in the evaluation and provide relevant treatment as needed. It is recommended that elderly patients can get more professional diagnosis and treatment.
Huang Gairong believes that based on the current status of China's aging society, the construction of geriatrics has a rare opportunity.
"Some factories, mines, hospitals, and electric power hospitals are also gaining momentum in the transformation of medical care."
Reporters: Xing Chong, Liang Xiaohui, participating reporters: Wei Xi, Ma Furong, Yang Jieying, Li Guigang, etc.