A new draft regulation issued by five central government departments of China proposes to further tighten the protection of the working rights of people past retirement age returning to the job market.
A news report published in https://www.chinadaily.com.cn said it is the nation's first document focusing on people past retirement age and their working benefits.
The report said the proposed regulation encourages the employers to offer appropriate positions to individuals beyond retirement age, keeping in view their expertise, skills, and background. The employers will have to enter into written agreements with the new but senior employees outlining job responsibilities, work location, hours, breaks, holidays, compensation, social insurance, and workplace protections.
The draft stipulates that older workers in regular jobs need to be paid at least local minimum wage, prohibiting employers from assigning these workers roles that harm their physical or mental well-being.
Also, it requires employers to give the workers training and education on occupational safety to reduce or avoid accidents and harms during work, adding that the workers will enjoy job-related injury insurance.
The five departments include the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, National Health Commission, and the Ministry of Emergency Management.
The new draft regulation has been kept open for public comments till 31 August 2025. From 1 January 2025 China has started to progressively raise the statutory retirement of male workers from 60 to 63 and females from 50 or 55 to 55 or 58, depending on their jobs or occupations, in 15 years. The move aims to better use the human resources based on scientific analysis on ageing problem.
Latest data released by the Chinese ministry of civil affairs showed that the nation has over 310.3m people aged 60 years old and above by the end of 2024, accounting for 22% of the nation's total population. Among them, people aged 65 and above are around 220.2m.