Younger workers such as Mr. Lin will be impacted most, with the retirement age for men gradually increasing from 60 to 63 over the next several years. The retirement age for women will rise from 50 to 55 for blue-collar workers, and 55 to 58 for white-collar workers. Though China’s statutory retirement ages are low by global standards, the change represents a hardship, especially for those who are engaged in physical labor or face greater job insecurity. Workers’ required contribution periods – or the amount of time the workers or their employer must pay into the pension system in order to reap the benefits – will also increase from 15 to 20 years between 2030 and 2039.