Lin Shuiqi, a Zhanjiang deputy to the second session of the 13th National People's Congress, calls upon the nation to roll out preferential pension policies targeting the disabled in an interview with Zhanjiang Daily. [Photo/gdzjdaily.com.cn]

Lin Shuiqi, a Zhanjiang deputy to the second session of the 13th National People's Congress, called upon the nation to roll out preferential pension policies targeting the disabled to help them have a better retirement.

Restricted by their physical or intellectual capacity, most disabled people can only engage in low-skilled jobs with a low salary. However, they are still required to pay the same amount in basic endowment insurance for the same number of years as non-disabled people.

Some disabled people cannot continue working to the statutory retirement age due to worsening physical or mental ailments. However, they cannot apply for early retirement under the current policy, but have to continue working instead. Retirement policies based on the situation of non-disabled people are not suitable for people with disabilities, said Lin.

Lin advised formulating preferential policies for the disabled to guarantee their livelihood. For example, the statutory age of retirement could be advanced five years, and the required personal contribution to basic endowment insurance for the disabled could be lowered from 8 percent of one's average monthly salary to 5 percent.