Gordon Lishman‚ Director General‚ Age Concern England said:

“The HSBC’s global survey chimes loudly with our own UK-wide research – three quarters of people regard compulsory retirement ages as old-fashioned and unnecessary.

“The public is a step ahead of the Government in accepting that one of the least painful ways to gather a decent retirement income is to carry on working if you want to or need to. Ministers made a leap backwards with their cowardly decision to keep compulsory retirement ages. With fixed retirement ages still in place‚ the Government makes a mockery of its so-called commitment to outlaw ageism in 2006. 

“As Pensions Minister‚ Alan Johnson announced that he wanted to see fixed retirement ages abolished. Well‚ this is his chance. As Secretary of State for Productivity‚ Energy and Industry‚ he could begin by catching up with public opinion.  Axing fixed retirement ages would improve economic productivity and offer an energised and industrious new way of approaching later life.”

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