Think before extending working years

Besides, the "double-track pension system" and "fragmented" pension premium system which stipulate different retirement ages - different again for men and women - have to be straightened before raising the retirement age, otherwise it would lead to further injustice toward grassroots workers. Moreover, without increasing salaries and ensuring comprehensive social security, including unemployment allowance, the authorities cannot gain much by raising the retirement age.

In fact, the largest opposition to raising the retirement age comes from grassroots workers, while administrative and research officials in government organizations are more willing to support the policy.

That is partly because of the difference in the nature of work they do and the level of satisfaction they draw from their work. For grassroots workers, especially manual workers, work means hard labor and a means of subsistence. So if they can make ends meet with the money they receive as pension, they would rather retire early. But for white-collar employees, including high-and mid-ranking officials, the pleasure of working overweighs the pain. Thus they are more likely to agree to an extended working age.

Given the attitude of grassroots workers, who constitute the majority of the country's workforce, it's not advisable to arbitrarily raise the retirement age. Doing so could lead to social conflicts threatening economic and social development.

Therefore, the authorities should hold an open discussion to decide whether (and to what extent) the retirement age should be raised. This is perhaps the best way to guarantee that the country has a fair retirement policy.

The author is the deputy director of Labor Relationship Research Center, Renmin University of China.