23rd September 2008
Existing UK rules on the rights of employers to enforce retirement at 65 have been backed by a European courts' advocate-general.
While the decision is not binding, it could spell the end of hope for an estimated 260 tribunal cases that are seeking to oppose UK laws by looking towards the European courts for direction.
Currently employers are allowed to dismiss workers at 65 against their will without having to pay them redundancy, something which affects an estimated 25,000 people a year.
The challenge was brought by Heyday, part of charity Age Concern, which argues that imposing a mandatory retirement age is discriminatory.
Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, said ageism "is not a minority issue", but is the most commonly experienced form of prejudice, with more than a million people already working past pensionable age.
Ailsa Olgive, director of Heyday said they would keep up the fight despite the setback, going back to the High Court in London for a final decision.
"Denying people work because of their date of birth is grossly unfair, and in these tough times we expect more people will need to carry on working into 'retirement' in order to make ends meet," she added.
IMAGEPA
No European support for retirement age challenge
While the decision is not binding, it could spell the end of hope for an estimated 260 tribunal cases that are seeking to oppose UK laws by looking towards the European courts for direction.
Currently employers are allowed to dismiss workers at 65 against their will without having to pay them redundancy, something which affects an estimated 25,000 people a year.
The challenge was brought by Heyday, part of charity Age Concern, which argues that imposing a mandatory retirement age is discriminatory.
Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, said ageism "is not a minority issue", but is the most commonly experienced form of prejudice, with more than a million people already working past pensionable age.
Ailsa Olgive, director of Heyday said they would keep up the fight despite the setback, going back to the High Court in London for a final decision.
"Denying people work because of their date of birth is grossly unfair, and in these tough times we expect more people will need to carry on working into 'retirement' in order to make ends meet," she added.
IMAGEPA
Tags: Employment
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