Recently, a 50-year-old aunt's call for "the elderly should not raise their wages again" is like a bombshell, setting off stormy waves in the ocean of social opinion, which has aroused widespread attention and heated discussions.
1. Background of the event
In today's society, young people are like walkers who are struggling to trek through thousands of boulders, and the pressure is stacked like mountains. According to authoritative data, the unemployment rate in 2023 will be 5.2%, and the population will reach 1.409 billion that year, which means that nearly 73 million people are unemployed, which is more than the permanent population of Hunan Province (66.4449 million). It is expected that there will be 11.79 million fresh graduates in 2024, which is undoubtedly adding to the difficulties and making the job search path of many young people thorny.
Looking at the house-price-to-income ratio, according to the test data in 2022, it is as high as 12.4. According to international practice, a house-price-to-income ratio of 3-6 times is reasonable, but the mainland is far beyond this range. Even in the United States, after three years of "big releases", the house-price-to-income ratio is only between 13 and 14 times. This undoubtedly shows that young people have to go through decades of hard work before they have the slightest hope of buying a place to live.
Looking at rents, data for May 2024 shows that the national median rent is $1,900 per month.
In terms of income, in 2023, the national average annual wage of employees in urban non-private units and private units released by the National Bureau of Statistics will be 120698 yuan and 68,340 yuan, respectively. The per capita expenditure in 2023 is 26,796 yuan, and it is well known how credible these values are after average processing.
In 2023, about 297 million, or 21.1% of the country's population, will reach retirement age, of which about 130 million will receive pensions, accounting for 43.8% of the retired population. In other words, 167 million people are unable to receive a pension, and it is important to note that this part of the population without a pension is not included in the calculation of the unemployment rate. As you can imagine, the real unemployment rate is far from being as simple as the 5.2% figure out for it. This further squeezes the employment space of young people.
According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, in 2022, the expenditure of the basic pension insurance fund for urban workers nationwide was 5,931.2 billion yuan, while the number of insured retirees was 136.44 million. From this, it can be roughly estimated that the per capita pension of the basic pension insurance for urban employees in 2022 will be about 4,345 yuan/month.
According to relevant statistics, the national labor force is about 776 million, and only 20% of them have a monthly salary of more than 4,000 yuan, that is, only 155 million people, only 25 million more than the population receiving pensions; The numbers are staggering.
Of course, the income of retirees is certainly eye-catching, but it is undeniable that the probability of physical problems is also high when they are older. However, those who receive pensions have health insurance, and the cost of medical treatment is very small. In 2023, the expenditure of the basic medical insurance fund for employees (including maternity insurance) will be 1,771.780 billion yuan, of which the overall fund will be 1,162.058 billion yuan. Since the medical expenses of retirees are mainly paid through the basic medical insurance pool fund for employees, it can be roughly estimated that the medical expenses of retirees in 2023 will be about 1,162.058 billion yuan. Retirees account for about 65% of total spending.
2. Different points of view
Regarding this aunt's appeal, netizens have different opinions and are equally equal. Some people deeply agreed, believing that the aunt's view was like a light in the dark night, illuminating the difficult situation of young people. After all, young people are struggling in the quagmire of life, and they deserve more care and support. They are facing difficulties in finding jobs, the pressure of buying a house, and the rising cost of living, each of which weighs on their hearts like a boulder.
Others are adamantly opposed, pointing out that life for the elderly is not as easy as it seems. In addition to the obvious burden of health care, care is also a major challenge. Many elderly people have difficulty in completing their daily lives independently due to their declining physical function, and they need to be cared for by others, which often requires a lot of money. In addition, the spiritual needs of the elderly are often neglected, and their children are too busy to spend their old age in loneliness, and the comfort of the soul becomes a luxury.
3. Expert analysis
Experts point out that the adjustment of pensions is like dancing on a tightrope, and stability needs to be carefully maintained on the balance beam. Young people are the sunrise of society, and their development is like the cornerstone, which is related to the future and prosperity of the country. The elderly are the sunset of society, and their dedication should be duly rewarded. Therefore, when formulating relevant policies, it is necessary to seek a delicate balance like a skillful craftsman.
Fourth, the solution discussion
In order to achieve a harmonious integration between the development of young people and the protection of the rights and interests of the elderly, we may be able to take multiple measures at the same time and work intensively.
On the one hand, we should increase support for young people to find employment. The government can introduce more preferential policies to encourage enterprises to attract young people to work, such as tax exemptions and subsidies. At the same time, vocational training should be strengthened to improve the employability skills of young people so that they can better adapt to market demand, like a spring breeze sending warmth, and removing thorns in their career path.
On the other hand, optimize the medical security system. It is not only necessary to reduce the pressure on the medical expenses of the elderly, but also to expand the coverage of medical insurance and increase the reimbursement ratio, so that the elderly no longer have to worry about the cost of medical treatment.
In addition, promote education reform so that it is closely integrated with market demand. According to the trend of social development, adjust the professional setting, cultivate innovative and practical talents to meet the needs of the times, and open the door to success for young people.
5. Summary and outlook
The call for "no more wage increases for the elderly" has triggered people's deep thinking about social equity and resource distribution. As the ancients said: "Do not suffer from few, but suffer from inequality." "In the future development, we need to carefully weave a net of fairness and harmony, not only to help the dreams of young people, but also to escort the old age of the elderly, so as to achieve sustainable development and long-term peace and stability of society. Let the hard work of young people have hope, let the elderly have dignity in their old age, and jointly draw a beautiful social picture.
Bibliography:
1. Relevant data reports of the National Bureau of Statistics
2. Relevant notice from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security