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Gordon Lishman‚ Age Concern’s Director-General said:

“The Government has failed to embrace a real opportunity to move with the times and make forced retirement a thing of the past. In our ageing society‚ the economy will increasingly rely on the skills of older workers‚ yet thousands will continue to be shunted out of their jobs and denied the right to choose when to retire‚ simply because of their date of birth.

“The proposal to give workers six months notice before being pushed out at 65 is a  step forward for older people but should be extended to at least one year to soften the blow of forced retirement: This would help older workers look for another job if they need to or exercise their right to appeal against their employer’s decision.

“Ultimately the Government must see sense and reverse its narrow-minded decision to force people to retire at a fixed age so that everyone has the choice.”

Note to editors:

• An Age Concern / ICM poll found that British workers think fixed retirement ages belong in the past. Almost three quarters (72%) of people regardless of age‚ social class or gender said they thought they are old fashioned and unnecessary. 
• Nine out of ten people surveyed agree that older workers should be able to choose when they retire.  
• (ICM Research interviewed 1007 adults aged 18+ as part of an omnibus telephone survey over the weekend of 17/18 July 2004. The results have been weighted to the profile of all adults).
  Radio producers please note: Age Concern has an ISDN facility.

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