Default retirement sparks age discrimination concerns
The Government is coming under criticism over proposals to set a new default retirement age of 65.
Though the Government’s decision is intended partly to prevent employers from forcing older workers out of jobs, many believe that compulsory retirement at any age is tantamount to age discrimination.
Groups that have spoken out against the new retirement rules include charity organisation Help the Aged and the Third Age Employment Network.
Currently firms can set whatever retirement age they like, with many people stopping work at 60 or even younger.
Under the new legislation, due for implementation by October 2006, retirement ages below 65 will only be allowed only if they can be shown to be absolutely necessary.
“The right to request working beyond retirement age will help to engender a real culture change, taking us towards a world where fixed retirement ages are consigned to the past,” commented Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt, unveiling the legislation today.
She said the legislation is “not about forcing people to work longer”, explaining that employers will be free to continue to employ people “for as long as they are competent and capable”.
But, Tessa Harding, a senior policy adviser for Help the Aged, described the decision as “staggering”. She said: “Age equality has yet again, been given the back seat.
‘The UK is required to eliminate age discrimination in employment by 2006. Yet, the Government has decided to retain one of the key features of that discrimination. So many people are forced to retire, whether they want to or not, just because they have reached an arbitrary birthday – where is the sense in that?”
