People should not be forced to retire at 65

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has called for people to be allowed to work when they are over 65.

In the UK, an employee can be forced to retire at 65 even if they don’t want to.

The commission says the retirement age should be scrapped, calling it out of date and saying it discriminates against those who would like to carry on working.

A review of the law has been promised by the government.

Equality and Human Rights Commission deputy chairman Lady Prosser said businesses would benefit from retaining older talent.

An employer can sack a worker upon reaching 65. However, as the state pension is due to rise to 66 in 2024, and then 67 then years later, the commission called the retirement law outdated.

A commission survey revealed that 62 per cent of women surveyed, and 59 per cent of men surveyed would continue to work beyond pension age, with job satisfaction and financial needs noted as the main reasons to carry on.

Lady Prosser said: "Radical change is what older Britons are telling us needs to happen for them to stay in the workforce." She added that a skills exodus had left a real threat of there not being enough workers, which was further exacerbated by the loss of older workers being forced to retire at 65.

What's this?