Recently, the news of a retired official from the Political Consultative Conference in Shenzhen earning nearly 30,000 yuan per month has sparked controversy. This revelation stands in stark contrast to the average monthly pension for retired employees of mainland Chinese enterprises, which is only around 3,162 yuan, generally less than 5,000 yuan. A “Income Statement” issued by the Office of the Shenzhen Yantian District Committee of the Political Consultative Conference, bearing an official stamp, highlights the significant disparity in retirement benefits between government officials and ordinary citizens, prompting strong societal scrutiny. According to a disclosure by a Shenzhen civil servant, as early as 2008, the retirement salary of director-level officials had already reached 10,000 yuan.
Following the disclosure of the retirement pension possibly as high as 30,000 yuan for Hu Xijin, the former editor-in-chief of the Chinese Communist Party’s official media Global Times, a “Income Statement” issued by the Office of the Political Consultative Conference in Yantian District of Shenzhen on August 21 began circulating. The document revealed that a former vice-chairman of the Yantian District Political Consultative Conference retired in 2015, receiving monthly payments of 18,463 yuan from social security, 10,151 yuan from the district’s finances, totaling 28,614 yuan with an annual income of 371,982 yuan, as of the signing date on October 17, 2023.
Reflecting on the past, a retired civil servant in Shenzhen known as Mr. Sun, who retired in 2008, mentioned that at that time, Shenzhen civil servants had the highest salaries nationwide. Director-level officials could receive 10,000 yuan upon retirement, which would not change even if one chose to continue working. However, the retirement salary was subject to an initial 20% increase followed by a discount. He pointed out that back then, the Shenzhen government had the resources, but the situation has changed. Mr. Sun also recalled that besides pension, Shenzhen civil servants were entitled to housing benefits, stating that his initial 10,000 yuan retirement salary increased by a few hundred yuan annually, demonstrating a substantial accumulation over the years.
Mr. Sun revealed that the circulating “Income Statement” of the Political Consultative Conference officials holds high credibility, explaining that apart from social security, such officials also receive financial subsidies not accessible to regular civil servants, which could justify the nearing 30,000 yuan figure for total income. He further disclosed that currently, retirement pensions for Shenzhen and Guangzhou civil servants are significantly lower compared to the past, with no salary increments prior to retirement.
The news spread rapidly on social media platforms after circulating within WeChat groups, inciting a heated discussion online. People expressed astonishment at the significant disparity between ordinary individuals receiving pensions of only three to four thousand yuan upon retirement compared to the substantial benefits received by officials. Questions were raised regarding the justification of using taxpayers’ money to provide such subsidies to officials. However, counterarguments defending the high pensions for upper-level officials based on their responsibilities and pressures were met with immediate rebuttals.
A retired government official in Beijing, known as Wang Shuli, mentioned that the difference in benefits primarily exists for officials holding positions at or above the bureau level. He recounted that Beijing department directors could receive retirement pensions along with allowances totaling around 28,000 yuan, whereas ministry-level officials would receive even higher amounts. For those who retired twenty years ago, their current income could potentially reach forty to fifty thousand yuan. He emphasized the additional benefit of housing, with properties exceeding 2,000 square meters, providing accommodation for the spouses until their passing.
Former finance personnel within the CCP system, Mr. Wang criticized the policies as unfair, illustrating a stark contrast in subsidies between regular workers and civil servants. He pointed out the significant disparity in governmental disbursements, citing cases where government assistance to civil servants far exceeded that of ordinary workers, to the extent of nearly eight thousand yuan annually per person, signifying an unjust redistribution of wealth.
Various interviewees have indicated that the retirement pensions for government officials in China vary depending on the financial condition of the city or district where they served. Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen had previously provided the highest pensions for civil servants, but with the economic downturn in real estate and manufacturing sectors, there has been a sharp decline in pension payments from 2023 onwards.
A researcher at Beijing University of Technology familiar with the social security system, Kang Xing, noted that the dual-track pension system creates a significant gap between officials within the system and those outside. Although there have been repeated proposals to merge the systems, the implementation has not been effectively carried out, leading to limited discussion on this disparity. Kang mentioned facing account suspension after posting a comparison of civil servants’ welfare benefits, emphasizing the restrictive nature of such discussions within the system.
The previous rumors about Hu Xijin’s retirement pension had already ignited public outrage. On August 18, a netizen claimed that Hu Xijin receives 33,000 yuan monthly and opposes raising pensions for farmers, citing a preservation of the “jungle rule.” Hu Xijin promptly refuted these claims on Weibo, stating that he had never heard of such a pension amount and invited anyone with evidence to come forward. However, he did not disclose his actual income.