Concerns from direct workers about the proposal to raise the retirement age to 65

The proposal to raise the retirement age to 65 is attracting great public attention. Many direct workers and grassroots union officials believe that extending working hours is not suitable for the nature of the job and health, especially in a arduous and toxic working environment.

Taking into account the safety factor

At the discussion session on the socio -economic situation at the 10th session of the 15th National Assembly, delegate Nguyen Thien Nhan (Ho Chi Minh City delegation) proposed raising the retirement age to 65 with the expectation of having 5 million more workers to serve the target of double-digit economic growth. This proposal quickly received the attention of workers.

Mr. Dang Van Tien, Canon Vietnam Co., Ltd. (First prize in the Universal Lathe competition at the Hanoi Skilled Worker Competition 2025) shared: “From a personal perspective, the field I am working in is difficult to handle until the age of 65 due to health factors, having to carry heavy objects, requiring high precision when operating. With this profession, when reaching old age, we also have to consider the factor of labor safety, because it is very dangerous for specific jobs.”

A factory in an industrial park in Dong Nai province. Illustration photo: Hong Dat/VNA

Mr. Ho Dinh Cong (Toto Vietnam Co., Ltd.) also said: “For direct workers, working until the age of 65 is difficult to meet the requirements of productivity and quality. Many steps in the chain, if not healthy, will find it difficult to keep up with the work. Therefore, the proposal to increase the retirement age to 65 is not reasonable. In my opinion, keeping it as it is now is appropriate.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diem, HR specialist of Sunhouse Company, also said: “Increasing the retirement age for workers would not be reasonable because it is related to health. In fact, in recruitment, many direct labor positions only recruit up to the age of 35. Therefore, the retirement age should also be divided by occupation. For some office and research occupations, raising the age to 65 is acceptable.”

Mr. Luu Kim Hong, Chairman of the Trade Union of Nidec Vietnam Company, said that in reality, there are many jobs and occupations that directly consume the health of workers, and if the retirement age is raised to 65, they will not have enough health to work until then. “The working and living conditions and environment of Vietnamese workers are more difficult than those of workers abroad. In addition, the health, life expectancy, and healthy life expectancy of Vietnamese people are still low, so raising the retirement age to 65 will cause a social shock,” Mr. Hong shared.

Representatives of grassroots unions also recorded the opinions of direct workers, accordingly, most labor-intensive fields believe that raising the retirement age to 65 years old is unreasonable because it is related to health and labor safety.

Need a specific roadmap

Dr. Bui Sy Loi, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Social Affairs (now the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Society), said that it is necessary to look directly at the reality of the quality of Vietnam's labor force. Currently, the majority of Vietnamese workers work in manual labor conditions, high intensity, toxic environments, and high pressure.

According to a survey by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (now the Ministry of Home Affairs), on average 60% of male workers and 70% of female workers said that their health declined significantly after the age of 55. Many people working in the fields of construction, textiles, mining, transportation, etc. cannot continue to work effectively after the age of 60.

Meanwhile, the current retirement age (60 for men, 55 for women) has been gradually adjusted up by 3 months/year for men and 4 months/year for women, towards 62 years old for men and 60 years old for women by 2035. “This is a cautious step, with a scientific and sociological basis. Currently, we are still adjusting according to this roadmap,” said Mr. Bui Sy Loi.

Dr. Bui Sy Loi said that the issue of increasing the retirement age needs to be handled flexibly and classified by occupation. In the spirit of Resolution 28-NQ/TW on reforming social insurance policies and the 2019 Labor Code, the retirement age needs to be adjusted flexibly, suitable for each group.

He analyzed that intellectual, scientific, managerial, educational, medical workers... can work until 65 years old or older if they are healthy and willing. Heavy, hazardous laborers or those working on industrial lines should retire earlier (50-55 years old) and still enjoy full social insurance benefits.

In addition, it is necessary to allow employees the right to choose to leave early or late within certain limits to ensure fairness and humanity.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/nhung-lo-ngai-tu-cong-nhan-lao-dong-truc-tiep-voi-de-xuat-nang-tuoi-nghi-huu-len-65-20251109232310956.htm