The possible legal amendment of the official retirement age for women has been a topic of heated discussion lately.

Currently, Chinese law stipulates that men retire at 60 and women at 55, but the age gap may be eliminated with the upcoming amendment of the Women's Rights Protection Law, reports Guangzhou Daily.

Women live longer than men and perform as well professionally. Requiring women to retire earlier than men is a kind of gender discrimination, said a women's federation official.

Ironically, many opponents of the amendment are young women, according to an article by Qi Hai, a delegate to the Guangdong People's Political Consultative Conference.

"It is difficult enough for women to find jobs now. If older women retire later, there will be even fewer openings suitable for women," said a college student.

An alternative viewpoint argues for the laws to be amended to require men to retire at 55, thereby redressing both the equal rights issue and the problem of the tight job market.

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