What does the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs say about the proposal to reduce the retirement age?

Recently, local delegations proposed to the 5th session of the National Assembly to consider reducing the retirement age to 55 for women and 60 for men for preschool teachers, workers directly working in industrial zones, doing heavy and toxic work... This is to limit the withdrawal of social insurance at one time and give workers the opportunity to receive pensions.

Regarding this issue, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said that the retirement regime is one of the social insurance policies to ensure monthly income for workers when they retire.

According to the law on social insurance, to receive monthly pension, employees must simultaneously meet two conditions on age and social insurance contribution period to harmonize and balance the contribution period and the benefit period. From there, ensure the sustainability of the fund.

According to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the issue of retirement age has been discussed and unanimously approved in Resolution No. 28. Institutionalizing the policy of increasing the retirement age in this Resolution, the National Assembly has unanimously issued the 2019 Labor Code, stipulating that the adjustment to increase the retirement age or the conditions for pension age of employees will not be increased immediately to 62 years old for men and 60 years old for women, but will be adjusted according to the roadmap of increasing by only 3 months each year for male employees and 4 months for female employees.

In addition, the increase in retirement age also takes into account factors related to the nature, type of labor and health of the worker. For workers who work in particularly arduous, toxic, or dangerous occupations or jobs; work in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions or workers with poor health (reduced ability to work) can also retire at a lower age than those working in normal working conditions (retire up to 5 years or 10 years earlier depending on the case).

In the coming time, based on the proposals of ministries, branches and localities, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs will continue to coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to research and review to amend and supplement the list of arduous, toxic and dangerous occupations and jobs and especially arduous and toxic occupations and jobs... to ensure good implementation of policies and regimes for workers. Including the basis for considering the conditions of retirement age of workers.

Retirement age suitable for health

Mr. Le Dinh Quang, Deputy Head of the Policy and Law Department (Vietnam General Confederation of Labor) said that according to the spirit of Resolution 28, there is a roadmap to increase the retirement age for men to 62 years old and for women to 60 years old. Therefore, if it is proposed to reduce the retirement age, it will be very difficult.

However, the agency drafting the revised Social Insurance Law may propose to add more subjects to retire earlier than the current regulations. In addition to heavy and hazardous labor, it may be proposed to apply to occupations such as: preschool teachers, primary school teachers, direct heavy laborers, etc. These subjects will be able to retire earlier and retain the maximum benefit of 75% of the salary for social insurance contributions.

A labor expert said that the revised Law on Social Insurance should study the reduction of retirement age according to the wishes of workers, especially manual workers, in a way that is suitable for reality.

Currently, there are many workers who start working at the age of 20, and by the age of 55 they have reached the maximum pension age, but they have to wait too long to reach retirement age. Previously, the retirement age for men was 60, for women was 55, and if they contributed for 15 years, they would receive 45%. Currently, the retirement age for men is 62 and for women is 60, which is a disadvantage for workers.

Most manual workers, when they reach the age of 55-60, "have dim eyes and slow legs" and want to retire instead of continuing to work. Therefore, regulations for early retirement should be specifically evaluated to suit the health and practical wishes of workers.