Allowing women to retire at the same age as men has been a hot topic of discussion lately as it is being considered for inclusion in the Law on Protection of the Rights and Interests of Women.

In the early years after the new China's foundation in 1949, the government established a rule to protect women from prolonged heavy labour, enabling them to retire five years earlier than their male colleagues.

Yet today, many women cast doubts on that rule, asking for equal rights and an extension of the retirement age.

Under the current provisional regulation on civil servants issued in 1993, female civil servants are required to retire at the age of 55, while their male colleagues retire at 60. And this practice is followed in other State units.

This unequal "favour" concerns not only at what age women can retire, but their promotion opportunities. For example, a female civil servant around the age of 50 is rarely promoted because she'll soon be retiring.

During the Ninth National Women's Congress, which wrapped up last week in Beijing, Xia Lanyin, a professor at China University of Political Science and Law and vice-chairperson of the China Society of Marriage and Family Studies, disclosed that the Law on Protection of the Rights and Interests of Women under revision is likely to give an explicit provision on the retirement age, empowering women to obtain their legal rights.

This is welcomed by many, especially female civil servants, scholars, and other brain workers.

Supporters hold that as time changes, more and more Chinese women are enjoying a higher level of education, and their average lifespan is longer than that of men.

Tan Lin, director of the Institute of Women Studies under the All-China Women's Federation said: "The conditions for retirement should be judged by abilities and health conditions, not by gender."

Women today have a lighter burden from the family and improved overall quality of life. Early retirement of women, especially those experienced at management and technical posts, is a huge waste of social resources.

On the other hand, early retirement leads to ignoring their rights and interests.

Early retirement can also often lead to a reduced pension, given that the pension is linked to length of service. This makes women fall behind in their financial status.

In a sense, enabling women to retire at the same age as men will protect women's rights and interests.

Yet there is another large group that should not be ignored - women who strive to get an earlier retirement in the country, mainly manual workers. Voices calling for their fair treatment are also loud.

"Simply suspending the retirement age is not a good thing for women workers," said Ma Longsheng, a columnist for the Beijing-based People's Daily.

This group of women usually started work at an early age, and many over the age of 50 have already put in 30 years of service.

"For them, the earlier they retire the earlier they can be freed from heavy labour and enjoy the pension welfare," Ma said.

In this regard, a flexible retirement age combined with the length of service would offer better protection of their interests.

All these aspects have been factored into the revision of the law, yet Xia is quite optimistic about it: "Both women's equal rights and their personal choice will be taken into consideration when making the revision. Women should be able to retire at the same age as men when their abilities and health conditions allow or choose the early retirement as they wish."

Women in this country have been blessed by the Constitution with equal rights with men in all spheres of life: political, economic, cultural, social and family. Equality of men and women is even set as one of the basic State policies.

Yet in actual practice, women are facing various visible and invisible disparities by gender.

Take this retirement issue. Besides legislation, there is still much to do with the labour and personnel departments, who will be charged with putting it into practice and helping women break the glass ceiling.

Fortunately, women have a stronger voice today - a voice bravely demanding their equal rights.

(China Daily 09/01/2003 page4)