China population: Beijing mulls eliminating gender gap in retirement age as demographic crisis looms
- China is considering narrowing the gender gap in retirement age, which is 60 for men and 55 for women
- But closing it will require a realignment of state pensions and childcare provisions, experts warn
The retirement age for women in China is lower than that of men, reflecting work and child care burdens from decades ago. As China’s population ages and its work force declines, the retirement age gap is coming under scrutiny, with changes possible in the near future. This is the first of a series of stories on women’s issues in China and Asia to coincide with International Women’s Day.
Amid growing concern about a demographic crisis, China is moving closer to narrowing the age of retirement between men and women, a gap that has been blamed for stoking gender inequality and wasting human resources.
But to do so, experts say China will also need to overhaul its state pension system and childcare provisions.
For more than four decades, China’s retirement age has remained unchanged at 60 for men and 55 for women, though it can be earlier for women in blue-collar jobs.
It is mandatory for Chinese stop working once they hit their age and they are often unable to re-enter the job market, even if they want to work.