Media centre

Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern, said:

“This is great news for all those who think they have been dismissed unfairly, purely because of their age.  It sends a warning to employers that they risk a claim against them if they enforce mandatory retirement ages, due to the uncertainty in the law.
Anyone thinking of bringing a claim can now expect their case to go on hold until the law has been clarified.”

Ailsa Oglive, Director of Heyday, said:

“We hope our legal challenge will result in the regulations relating to mandatory retirement ages being found to be unlawful. Forcing an ageing workforce to retire on grounds of age alone is discriminatory, absurd and we think contrary to European law. A person’s ability to work should be based on their skills, not their birth certificate."

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The judicial review application has been made by the National Council on Ageing, which operates under the names Heyday and Age Concern. The case argues that the UK Government has improperly implemented the EU directive upon which the age regulations were based. The case has been referred to the European Court of Justice.
• Heyday is a not-for-profit membership organisation developed by Age Concern for all people who are thinking about, planning for or in retirement.
• Age Concern is the largest organisation in the UK working for older people.  Everyday we are in touch with thousands of older people, enabling them to make more of life. We work in the community to support older people through a range of initiatives. These include information and advice, befriending, day centres, lunch clubs, transport services, home visits, and advocacy services. More information can be found on our website.
  

For general enquiries please contact us.

Journalists contact:

Media contact:
Zena Ambrose
Telephone:
020 8765 7512
Out of office hours:
07071 243 243
Email:
Media@ace.org.uk