Beijing, Nov 21 (IANS): The Chinese government has planned a progressive approach to raise the retirement age, a media report said on Saturday.

Li Zhong, spokesperson for the human resources and social security ministry, said on Friday that raising the retirement age would be carried out "step by step," which means that Chinese people's retirement age would be lifted by only "several months" each year, the Global Times reported.

He also said that the government would inform the public in advance about the longer working age so as to help people "psychologically prepare" for the programme.

The current retirement age is 60 for men, 55 for female white-collar workers and 50 for female blue-collar workers.

China has 210 million people aged 60 or above, accounting for 15.5 percent of the population.

It is estimated that by 2020, over-60s will make up 19.3 percent of the population, and the figure will reach 38.6 percent in 2050, according to the civil affairs ministry.