The Tianjin municipal government has introduced a new policy for the pension insurance system, lowering the participation age from 18 to 16.

Under the new age range, from 16 to 60, anyone with Tianjin residency, whether employed or not, can choose to participate in the pension system.

Zhu Lijia, a scholar from the Chinese Academy of Governance, says the lowering of the participation age means an increase in the working lifespan.