Delayed retirement requires support

During a recent meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's legislature, some members suggested pushing back official retirement ages to relieve pressure on the government's pension system. Such proposals are nothing new, as are proposals that the government should let employees choose their own retirement age.

Suggestions to delay retirement eligibility are understandable. Doing so would increase each worker's pension contribution and help relieve a rapidly growing shortfall in the country's retirement fund.

At this point, a decision to postpone retirement for millions of workers looks unavoidable. But authorities should also implement complementary policies that take the circumstances of various workers into consideration. For instance, those working in physically-demanding jobs should be allowed to retire earlier than those employed in non-menial positions.

Authorities need to design reasonable mechanisms that meet the needs of all aging workers. Delaying retirement is just one step toward fixing shortages in the country's pension fund. More work still has to be done to avoid new contradictions and problems.