The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is considering raising the legal retirement age in China to reduce pressure on the social security retirement pension.

Ministry spokesman Hu Xiaoyi said China's aging population has put more and more pressure on the pension, reported China Radio International.

Hu said raising the legal age of retirement is a very important step in developing the social security system.

The government believes the first priority is to raise the legal retirement age of women. But he did not give a timetable for the change, stressing only that it's a gradual process.

He adds that women at age 50 are in the prime of their working life and it's too young for them to retire.

(CRI online September 9, 2004)