Huzhou latest city to allow cabbies to keep meter running until age of 65

The city of Huzhou in Zhejiang province has become the latest Chinese city to raise the age cap for taxi drivers from 60 to 65, as China faces the increasing pressures of an aging society and calls for delaying retirement.

The city pledged to monitor demand and adjust the number of taxis and fares accordingly.

With a population of more than 3 million, Huzhou has around 1,500 taxis.

Previously, the age cap was set following the official retirement age — 60 for men, 55 for female cadres and 50 for female workers nationwide. That limit was set according to a document in 1978, when China had a significantly lower life expectancy, and more people engaged in labor-intensive careers.

Over the last two years, a growing number of cities have rolled out similar policies to relax the age limit of taxi drivers, including metropolises such as Guangzhou in Guangdong province, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province and Chengdu in Sichuan province.

Some netizens have raised doubts about potential safety issues related to older taxi drivers. But more people have welcomed the decision, saying it would serve as an example of breaking unreasonable age limits or what some might even call discrimination, against the backdrop of an aging society.

In an editorial on Monday, Beijing News underlined the exemplary effect that the change sets, adding that based on the overall health status, setting the age cap to 65 can balance safety concerns and the trend of an aging society.

In April last year, several female taxi drivers in Ziyang, Sichuan province, were forced to retire after they hit 50, which led to a debate on whether the current age cap should be adjusted.

Ziyang authorities answered at the time that only major cities may relax the age limit through local legislation, and there would be no legal basis if Ziyang were to follow suit, adding that they have suggested the Ministry of Transport issue nationwide guidelines.

China removed the age cap of 70 for applying for a driver's license in November 2020, although those above 70 need to undergo extra tests on memory, judgment and response, and submit a health checkup report every year to prove that they are still capable of driving safely.

In a document released in 2021, the central authorities were looking to improve the affairs regarding seniors, including letting those who were relatively younger and capable contribute to society by working or helping in community affairs. Meanwhile, for the last decade or so, China has also been contemplating a nationwide plan to delay the retirement age in a gradual and steady manner, although the details are still being deliberated.

Japan, one of the countries that faces the most severe aging problem, has encouraged and subsidized enterprises that employ seniors. Drivers hired by taxi companies in Tokyo may be up to 75 years old, and that number would be even higher for private taxis. The average age of taxi drivers in the country is 58.6 years.