The 8th JILPT Tokyo Comparative Labor Policy Seminar 2025
Aging Population and Labor Law Policy

The Asia-Pacific is the region with the fastest-aging population in the world. The region is expected to experience population aging over the next 27 years at a rate like that experienced by high-income countries in other parts of the world over the past 60 years. The ratio of the population aged 65 and over to the population aged 15-64 is projected to rise from 0.15 in 2023 to 0.31 in 2050. The economic dependency ratio, defined as the ratio of those not employed to those employed among the region’s working age-population, is projected to rise from 0.72 in 2023 to 0.90 in 2050, which will translate as almost one dependent per employed person in the region. This rise is due to a decline in the labor force participation rate from 60.9% in 2023 to 54.9% in 2050, driven by population aging in the region.[1]

Population aging poses significant challenges that require the restructuring of various aspects of society, affecting labor markets, social security systems, and economic and fiscal policies. Companies in many countries and sectors are facing severe labor shortages because of population aging, which will increase the need for older people to work longer. To promote the social participation of older adults through employment and to ensure that they can work safely and comfortably, reforms in employment systems, vocational training and improvements in the work environment are crucial.

Therefore, this seminar aims to share information and knowledge on the current state of ageing populations, policy responses in different countries and the implications for enterprises and workers. It will also discuss future challenges and initiatives for solutions.

Note 1: Asia-Pacific Employment and Social Outlook 2024: Promoting decent work and social justice to manage ageing societiesnew window

Reports presented at the seminar will be published in our-online journal Japan Labor Issues in autumn 2025.

Date of the Event

March 26, 2025

Seminar Theme

Aging Population and Labor Law Policy

Discussion Points

  1. The Current Situation of Aging and "Retirement"
    1. Definition of the Elderly
    2. The Scale and Changes in Aging from Macro Statistics (Number and percentage of elderly population, employment rate, percentage of labor force etc.)
    3. The Typical "Retirement" Process for the Average Worker（Typical retirement age, common retirement trajectory)
    4. General Social Perception and Attitudes Toward "Retirement"
  2. Policy Responses
    （１）Employment Legislation
    1. Presence or Absence of Regulations on mandatory retirement
    2. Presence or absence of age discrimination prohibitions
    3. Other Legal Regulations Related to Elderly Employment (Elderly employment promotion measures, policies for elderly unemployment, active labor market policies, etc.)
    （２）Pension Legislation
    1. Overview of Post-Retirement Income Security Systems (Relative importance and roles of public and private pensions)
    2. Public Pensions (Pensionable age, possibility of receiving pensions while employed)
    3. Private Pensions (Systems for securing post-retirement income)
  3. Impact on Companies and Workers
    1. Responses and Initiatives by Companies/Employer Organizations (Human Resource Management)
    2. Responses and Initiatives by　Workers/Unions
    3. Current Situation and Challenges of Labor Shortages
  4. Future Challenges and Initiatives for Longer Working Lives
    1. Employment System Reforms (Support for elderly reemployment, extension of retirement age, abolition of mandatory retirement, reemployment systems)
    2. Reskilling/Training for the Elderly
    3. Mid-Life Career Counseling and Financial/Economic Education for Post-Retirement Income Security
    4. Countermeasures for Elderly Unemployment and Poverty (Improving working conditions, preventing age discrimination)

List of Participants (PDF:171KB)

Program (PDF:119KB)

Opening Ceremony & Keynote Lectures

Opening Ceremony

Opening ceremony

  • Opening Remarks
    Hiroyuki FUJIMURA, President, The Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training (JILPT)
  • Keynote Lecture (Recorded)
    Jean-Michel SERVAIS, President, International Society for Labour and Social Security Law (ISLSSL)

Session 1: Research Presentations

Chair: ARAKI Takashi, Professor, The University of Tokyo

  1. Presentation 1 [China]
    "Protecting Older Workers in China: A Path Forward" (PDF:140KB)
    Presentation (PDF:640KB)
    WANG Tianyu, Professor, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
    • Discussant: ZHONG Qi, Vice Senior Researcher, JILPT
  2. Presentation 2 [Korea]
    "Current Status of Aging in South Korea and Responses in Labor and Social Policy" (PDF:193KB)
    Presentation (PDF:719KB)
    OH Dai Young, Associate Professor, Jeju National University
    • Discussant: LI Ziwei, Graduate Student, The University of Tokyo
  3. Presentation 3 [Japan]
    "The Retirement Process of Older Workers in Japan: Perspectives from Legislative Frameworks and Human Resource Management" (PDF:502KB)
    Presentation (PDF:566KB)
    MORIYAMA Tomohiko, Researcher, JILPT
    • Discussant: YAMAMOTO Yota, Senior Researcher, JILPT
  4. Presentation 4 [Taiwan]
    "Taiwan's Response to Demographic Changes: Employment Policies for an Aging population" (PDF:610KB)
    Presentation (PDF:945KB)
    HUANG Johsiang, Assistant Professor, National Tsing Hua University
    • Discussant: KATAYAMA Yuta, Graduate Student, The University of Tokyo
  5. Presentation 5 [Australia]
    "Australia’s Aging Workforce: Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities for Labour Regulation" (PDF:319KB)
    Presentation (PDF:556KB)
    Amanda SELVARAJAH, Lecturer, Monash University
    • Discussant: KAMEDA Koji, Associate Professor, Kokushikan University

Session 2: Research Presentations

Chair: KANKI Chikako, Professor, The University of Tokyo

  1. Presentation 6 [Thailand]
    "Aging population and employment in Thailand: Towards Inclusive Legal Reforms" (PDF:208KB)
    Presentation (PDF:324KB)
    Panthip PRUKSACHOLAVIT, Associate Professor, Chulalongkorn University
    • Discussant: ISHIGURO Shun, Lecturer, The University of Tokyo
  2. Presentation 7 [Philippines]
    "Amidst the Demographic Shifts: The Case of the Silver Workforce in the Philippines" (PDF:317KB)
    Presentation (PDF:249KB)
    Ronahlee A. ASUNCION, Professor, University of the Philippines Diliman
    • Discussant: ISHIKAWA Mari, Researcher, RENGO-RIALS
  3. Presentation 8 [Malaysia]
    "Tackling Aging Population and the Labor Law Policy in Malaysia" (PDF:318KB)
    Presentation (PDF:879KB)
    Ravindra Kumar G RENGASAMY, President, MSLSSL
    • Discussant: TAKIHARA Hiromitsu, Associate Professor, Daito Bunka University
  4. Presentation 9 [Indonesia]
    "Indonesian Workforce Demography: Labor Law and Policy amidst Aging Society" (PDF:368KB)
    Presentation (PDF:422KB)
    Ike FARIDA, Founder and Managing Partner, Farida Law Office
    • Discussant: HIHARA Yukie, Lecturer, Yamagata University

Concluding Session

Chair: MORITO Hideyuki, Professor, Keio University

The 8th JILPT Tokyo Comparative Labor Policy Seminar 2025 group photo
Seminar participants

Seminar program uploaded on March 27, 2025

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