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Confusion
surrounds laws on age discrimination in the workplace, nearly twelve
months on from the introduction of the age regulations, says Age
Concern.
To help those who would like to know more
about the law, Age Concern has a free guide available which outlines
people’s rights and obligations in relation to age discrimination.
On
1 October 2006, new regulations came into effect prohibiting age
discrimination in most workplace situations, but there are a number of
exceptions where discrimination will still be lawful. People over 65
can still be refused employment or forced to retire. The exceptions
have caused confusion, and this free guide hopes to offer
easy-to-understand information about rights.
Age
Concern is backing Heyday, the organisation for people approaching or
in retirement, in its legal case challenging the law. The case, which
has been referred to the European Court of Justice, argues that
allowing employers to force people to retire at 65 is unlawful.
The free guide – “Calling time on age discrimination - a guide” can be downloaded from www.ageconcern.org.uk/agediscrimination or ordered free from 0800 00 99 66.
Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern, said:
“The
Government has made the age regulations more complex than they should
be, and employers have been overly cautious in their implementation.
Which ever way you look at it, older people are all too often let down
by the age regulations.
“It is vitally important
that as you get older, you understand your rights in the workplace. Too
many people are suffering from age discrimination and prejudice.
“The
booklet also explains the rules relating to mandatory retirement ages.
The rules are complicated and employers are too quick to force people
to retire. We see many people who want to or need to work being forced
to retire, even though they are perfectly capable of carrying on in
work.”
www.ageconcern.org.uk 4th September 2007
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