Economic and fiscal policy minister Kaoru Yosano says the government should in the long term consider raising from 65 the age at which people start receiving national pension benefits.

Yosano's proposal is aimed at helping stabilize the pension plan's financial picture and keeping seniors in the workforce, but it will also draw fire from many members of the scheme.

"Under the assumption that a person's life lasts 90 years, we should consider extending the retirement age or raising the age at which pensions are payable," Yosano told a government meeting Friday on achieving economic growth, a government official said.