The Japanese Diet (Parliament) has begun debate on legislation to raise the retirement age of national Public Servants.
Under the proposal the retirement age, which now stands at 60, would be raised by one year every two years, beginning in 2022 until it reaches 65 in 2030.
The increase is part of the Government’s social security reforms aimed at creating a system beneficial to all generations, and is intended to help veteran employees continue to play active roles in the workplace.
Minister for Civil Service Reform, Ryota Takeda (pictured) said it was important to allow willing people to work by fully displaying their abilities and support society.
He said Japan’s working-age population was decreasing amid the greying of society and the sluggish birth rate.
Under the planned law Public Servants who have reached 60 will, in principle, be removed from managerial positions, a measure designed to increase chances for younger employees to serve in important posts.
“This will boost their motivation and help each Government organisation maintain dynamism,” Mr Takeda said.
“Based on the examples of private-sector companies, salaries of national Civil Servants aged 61 or over will be reduced to 70 per cent of the levels they got before reaching the age. This will curb personnel costs.”
The legislation includes an amendment to the Public Prosecutors’ Office, raising the retirement age of prosecutors to 65 from 63.
The move comes amid a controversy over a change in the legal interpretation by the Government regarding an extension of the retirement age of Hiromu Kurokawa, head of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Opposition politician, Yuichi Goto said Mr Kurokawa’s case showed that issues related to an extension of prosecutors’ retirement age could invite political intervention.
Tokyo, 18 April, 2020
