Dr. Xia Yinlan

But despite these encouraging new provisions, Dr Xia Yinlan, president of the China Family Law Association and also vice-chairwoman of the Beijing Women's Federation, regrets the amendment fails to state that women and men must retire from work at the same age.

The amendment says it is in accordance with relevant government stipulations regarding the age of retirement.

"But the only government stipulation concerning this point is made by the Ministry of Personnel, which differentiates the age for retirement at 60 for men and 55 for women."This is "inequality," according to Xia, who believes the amendment acquiesces to the other regulation, when it really should tackle the matter.
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"It is urgent to redress this discrepancy, but selective abortion cannot be controlled without blanket restrictions on all terminations, as there is no way to prove why a woman decides to have an abortion," said Xia.

Outside academic circles the draft amendment has aroused some concern from the general public.

Xia Yinlan, president of the China Family Law Association and also vice chairwoman of the Beijing Women's Federation, calls the women's retirement age a display of "inequality" and "a waste of talent".

Xia is not the only one calling for revising the compulsory early retirement for women.In the last several years, hundreds of proposals have been submitted at the annual sessions of the National People's Congress, or China's parliament, and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top advisory body.

Despite these encouraging new provisions, Dr. Xia Yinlan, president of China Family Law Association and also vice chairwoman of Beijing Women's Federation, regrets that the amendment fails to state that women and men must retire from work at the same age.