Volunteers from Jiangsu University help the elderly browse news about the two sessions online in Zhenjiang, East China's Jiangsu Province on March 8, 2022. Older people are using computers and smartphones to read about old-age security, medical care policies, and services for the elderly discussed at the two sessions. Photo: VCG

The topic of reemployment after retirement in the Chinese labor market has sparked a new round of heated discussions lately after a Chinese expert proposed to "redefine the elderly population" and to support the elderly people aged between 60 and 70 to continue working as a result of the improvement of living standards and the practical needs of some elderly people. 

Ma Jiantang, former Party chief of the Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC), suggested that the statistical criteria for elderly population be adjusted with the elderly aged 60 to 70 defined as "young elderly." Ma noted that as they still remain in good health they should be supported with their needs of reemployment after retirement if they want to continue working.  

Reemployment of the elderly has long been a repeatedly discussed topic over the past years. Many experts and scholars have put forward the reasons for reemployment of the elderly, given the insufficient pension for the elderly against the backdrop of aging society with longer lifespan for the entire population. 

A 2022 survey report on the post-retirement employment of senior citizens released by Chinese recruitment website 51job.com shows that 68 percent of surveyed senior citizens in China intend to return to the workplace after retirement while 30 percent of the interviewees say they have economic pressure.

In 2023, Hu Zheng, a political advisor from Zhangshu city, East China's Jiangxi Province, proposed that the elderly have to get back into the society as there is an increasing number of elderly people who need financial support as the aging society intensifies while the number of young people contribute to the pension system is shrinking. 

According to Guan Xinping, a professor from Nankai University, the retirement period is actually a very long period of time which can last for 20 years or longer, during which people's physical conditions, capabilities and psychological conditions vary greatly. In the early stage of retirement, many of the elderly are still energetic enough to continue working. 

However, since Chinese laws and regulations determine the retirement age at 60 for men, many who aged above 60 remain working with part-time jobs are not fully protected in terms of their rights and interests, Guan told the Global Times on Monday. Guan thinks the retirement age should be delayed to 65 years or 70 from the perspective of legislation to protect the rights of elderly workers. 

The reemployment of the elderly also brings about the controversial issue that re-hired retired people may occupy job opportunities for young people who are already facing a tough time in job hunting. 

According to Guan, both the elderly and the young people should be granted with equal rights in employment and equal competition environment in the job market, where the supply and demand of labors can be adjusted via the price leverage such as salaries and labor costs. 

Hu said that a lot of jobs that young people are unwilling to do but are desperately needed in the society should be developed such as social welfare services, domestic services, marriage and funeral services, care services for the aged, rehabilitation services for the disabled, as well as the repair services, to meet the diversified needs of the elderly workers. 

Guan said that there exists a structural difference in the labor market according to different age groups. That is to say, young people will gather in some industries which elderly workers may not be competent for, such as cutting-edge technologies or courier deliverers, whereas the elderly can work as a security guards or sanitation workers that young people are unwilling to do. The labor market can be regulated with the market mechanism which decides who will be employed. 

A statement released in 2023 on the official website of Baoxing county in Southwest China's Sichuan Province said that many young elderly villagers in good health had to consider reemployment due to the pressure from life. However, they were obliged to resort to planting and breeding in hometowns for that age limitation marked on recruitment information and their limited skills. 

Guan noted that no matter young or aged, they should be provided with help such as training if they face difficulties in employment. 

China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security once publicly acknowledged the role of retired professionals, stating that they have worked for many years in various fields such as education, scientific research, culture, healthcare, and industrial and agricultural production. They have accumulated rich practical experience and possess high levels of professional and technical expertise, making significant contributions to promoting China's economic and social development and advancing scientific and technological innovation, The Paper reported.