Age Concern throughout Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Age Discrimination

‘From 1 October 2006, new laws protect workers from age discrimination. The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations make it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees, trainees or job seekers because of their age and ensure that all workers, regardless of age, have the same rights in terms of training and promotion.’ http://www.agepositive.gov.uk/news/age_legislation.asp

The MRA, or Mandatory Retirement Age

Heyday, a membership organisation for the over 50s supported by the knowledge of Age Concern, has taken the government to court over the MRA, or Mandatory Retirement Age. On the 6th of December 2006, in a highly unusual move, the Government’s lawyers did not contest Heyday’s proposal that a reference should be made to the European Court. Commenting on the outcome of the High Court hearing, Ailsa Ogilvie, Director of Heyday said:

'We’re delighted that the Government came around to our view that there should be a reference to the European Court of Justice, asking it to resolve a number of questions of European Law in relation to our claim.'

'The UK was one of the last countries in Europe to enact the European directive outlawing age discrimination in employment - and we believe the Government got it wrong.'

'We hope that the ECJ will declare that the UK’s new law does not fully implement the European Directive outlawing age discrimination. This finding would mean that the Government would be forced to amend the legislation to give workers over-65 the same protection from discrimination that younger workers have.'

'For the many people who have been victims of pension changes, who don’t have a decent pension or who want to continue earning money after 65 for whatever reason, the right to work free from discrimination is not an optional extra, it’s something they need.'

For information on Heyday please contact James Smith:

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