... most to older people: the right to privacy and to family life and the avoidance of degrading treatment. Provision must be made before 2006 to provide guidance for employers on the substantial changes needed in culture and procedures at work; and subsequently for older people on their rights and new opportunities open to them.
This report says that the Government proposals to tackle ageism at work will not do enough to challenge age stereotypes and enable people to continue working. The new law, which will allow people to challenge age discrimination, would put the burden on older people to ‘complain their way to equality’. Employers will not have a duty, as they do for ethnic minorities, to take active steps to promote equality. Currently the average retirement age is only 61, but average life expectancy is 77 and rising. By 2014 there will be more people over 65 than under 16. One third of people over 50 but below state pension age are not in work. The Government should consult on proposals for extending the proposed age discrimination law to cover public services. The law should include a responsibility on employers and public services to promote age equality. The private sector, where 82.5 per cent of people work, should be subject to a light touch reporting mechanism on the steps they have taken. Mandatory retirement should be unlawful at any age, except in exceptional circumstances. The proposed new equality commission should also provide guidance to public services on those human rights that matter most to older people: the right to privacy and to family life and the avoidance of degrading treatment. Provision must be made before 2006 to provide guidance for employers on the substantial changes needed in culture and procedures at work; and subsequently for older people on their rights and new opportunities open to them.