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| Call for over-65s to keep working | Call for over-65s to keep working |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| People should be allowed to work beyond the age of 65 and with more flexible hours, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has said. | People should be allowed to work beyond the age of 65 and with more flexible hours, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has said. |
| In the UK, workers can see their employment end at 65 even if they do not want to retire. | |
| The commission wants ministers to scrap the retirement age, saying it is out of date and discriminates against people who want to carry on working. | The commission wants ministers to scrap the retirement age, saying it is out of date and discriminates against people who want to carry on working. |
| The government has promised a review of the law. | The government has promised a review of the law. |
| The commission's deputy chairman Lady Prosser said it made good business sense in a recession to recruit and retain older talent. | The commission's deputy chairman Lady Prosser said it made good business sense in a recession to recruit and retain older talent. |
| Currently, an employer can legally sack a worker when they reach 65. | Currently, an employer can legally sack a worker when they reach 65. |
| Radical change is what older Britons are telling us needs to happen for them to stay in the workforce Lady Prosser, Equality and Human Rights Commission deputy chairman | Radical change is what older Britons are telling us needs to happen for them to stay in the workforce Lady Prosser, Equality and Human Rights Commission deputy chairman |
| But with the state pension age set to rise to 66 in 2024 and 67 a decade later, the commission says retirement law is outdated and employers should extend flexible working. | But with the state pension age set to rise to 66 in 2024 and 67 a decade later, the commission says retirement law is outdated and employers should extend flexible working. |
| In a survey by the commission of 1,500 over-50s, 62% of women and 59% of men said they wanted to continue working beyond pension age. | In a survey by the commission of 1,500 over-50s, 62% of women and 59% of men said they wanted to continue working beyond pension age. |
| Two-thirds said they were fit for work and cited job satisfaction and financial necessity as reasons to carry on. | Two-thirds said they were fit for work and cited job satisfaction and financial necessity as reasons to carry on. |
| Baroness Prosser said: "Radical change is what older Britons are telling us needs to happen for them to stay in the workforce. | Baroness Prosser said: "Radical change is what older Britons are telling us needs to happen for them to stay in the workforce. |
| "Britain has experienced a skills exodus during the recession and as the economy recovers we face a very real threat of not having enough workers - a problem that is further exacerbated by the skills lost by many older workers being forced to retire at 65." | "Britain has experienced a skills exodus during the recession and as the economy recovers we face a very real threat of not having enough workers - a problem that is further exacerbated by the skills lost by many older workers being forced to retire at 65." |
| 'I want to carry on' | 'I want to carry on' |
| Some companies, including Asda, already encourage people to continue working after 65. | Some companies, including Asda, already encourage people to continue working after 65. |
| One employee, Kalpene Acharya, 57, said she wanted to keep earning. | One employee, Kalpene Acharya, 57, said she wanted to keep earning. |
| "I would like to work in this environment. If my health supports that, definitely, I would like to work until 70," she said. | |
| The threat of enforced retirement at 65 is totally unacceptable and the sooner it is scrapped, the better Lynne Featherstone,Liberal Democrat spokeswoman | |
| Andrea Murray from the Equality and Human Rights Commission told BBC Radio 4's Today programme most of the people surveyed had to keep working for financial reasons. | Andrea Murray from the Equality and Human Rights Commission told BBC Radio 4's Today programme most of the people surveyed had to keep working for financial reasons. |
| She said allowing people to stay in employment past the current retirement age would also have health benefits for some and provide a boost to the economy. | She said allowing people to stay in employment past the current retirement age would also have health benefits for some and provide a boost to the economy. |
| "Older workers can put a lot of spending power into the economy and they have existing skills. | "Older workers can put a lot of spending power into the economy and they have existing skills. |
| "They are not necessarily in the same entry-level jobs that younger people are going for, although initiatives are needed for younger people as well," she said. | |
| However David Yeandle, spokesman for manufacturers' organisation the Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF), advised caution and said current government policy on the matter was "working very well". | |
| He said: "The government should undertake a proper, thorough, evidence-based review rather than make decisions on the basis of just one report." | He said: "The government should undertake a proper, thorough, evidence-based review rather than make decisions on the basis of just one report." |
| Mr Yeandle said EEF members wanted a default retirement age and the right to request to continue working to remain government policy as it benefited both employers and individuals. | |
| The Department for Work and Pensions said its long-term aim was to "consign fixed retirement ages to the past". | The Department for Work and Pensions said its long-term aim was to "consign fixed retirement ages to the past". |
| It said a review of the default retirement age had been brought forward to this year and businesses and individuals were currently providing evidence on the impact of retirement ages. | It said a review of the default retirement age had been brought forward to this year and businesses and individuals were currently providing evidence on the impact of retirement ages. |
| The Liberal Democrat equalities spokeswoman, Lynne Featherstone, said the commission had "got it right". | |
| She added: "The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to the Equality Bill that would end this arbitrary injustice - now the government must act. | |
| "The threat of enforced retirement at 65 is totally unacceptable and the sooner it is scrapped, the better." | |
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