Retirement at later ages can cover social needs but not social divide

AT A RECENT NEWS CONFERENCE at the National People's Congress, Yin Weimin, minister of Human Resources and Social Security, said that the ministry expects to draft a policy on later retirement ages this year and will submit it to the central leadership next year; it hopes to make a formal plan in 2017 and implement it in another five years. He said this is in order to fill in the gap of social security fund. Comments:

The minister said that by delaying the retirement age the ministry aims to lessen the pressure on State finance, because the move will cut its spending while increasing its income. That's a good deal for the State, but what about the ordinary working people, who will have to work extra years? Long gone are the days when people sacrificed for the State without any complaint; if bureaucrats need the people to contribute more, please bargain and persuade them before making any draft plan.

Yangcheng Evening News, March 12