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Shenzhen eases age limits for government jobs, blazing trail for China’s retirement delay

Three districts in the southern city of Shenzhen seemingly respond to long-awaited move to gradually raise retirement ages in China

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China will gradually raise retirement ages by up to five years by 2040, starting from January. Photo: Bloomberg
Kinling Loin Beijing

Three districts in China’s southern metropolis of Shenzhen have quietly extended the maximum age limits for some of its government job openings, in a rare move after the landmark decision earlier this month to delay the national retirement ages.

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The Longgang, Pingshan and Guangming districts last week set the maximum age for applicants with an undergraduate degree to 40 for 189 openings, five years older than the general standard for government jobs.

The age limit for 56 out of 82 roles – from urban planning to epidemic control – advertised by Longgang district have also been extended to 45 for applicants who have a doctoral degree or a professional title, according to an official announcement on Thursday.

The reasons for the changes were not provided, but reflect efforts by local governments to adjust policies following the move by China’s top legislature to endorse a plan to gradually raise retirement ages by up to five years by 2040, starting from January.

Under the long-awaited move, the retirement age for all men will be increased from 60 to 63, while female office workers will see their working life eventually extended from 55 to 58.

After such an arrangement is in operation for some time, other places could potentially follow suit if the results are well
Peng Peng, Guangdong Society of Reform

Meanwhile, female blue-collar workers, who previously retired at 50, will have to wait until they are 55 to retire under the new arrangements.

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