Euro-MP Calls On Government Not To Repeat Mistakes Over Age Legislation

1.39.08pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 20th Jan 2005

Less than two years until age discrimination is outlawed in the workplace and the government has yet to face up to the reality of the legislation, according to Liberal Democrat Employment Spokesperson in the European Parliament Liz Lynne MEP.

The new legislation to become law in October 2006 is the latest part of the 2000 Employment Directive, which seeks to outlaw discrimination in the workplace.

The UK government negotiated an extension on age discrimination until 2006 to prepare businesses for the change.

"This Government never seems to learn. They follow a set pattern. First they negotiate an extension to EU Directives in order to prepare for their implementation then do nothing until the implementation date is close, then blame businesses for not being ready.

"They did the same with the Disability Discrimination Act and 80% of businesses were unprepared for its implementation last December.

"The Directive was passed in 2000 the Government have had long enough to come up with the answers. Let us hope they do not leave it until the last minute as they have done so often in the past.

"No doubt however when it is implemented the UK Government will hail this as their own idea. In reality the European Parliament has been at the forefront of introducing legislation to help older people. As well as overcoming significant reluctance from the UK Government to include age discrimination at work in the employment directive, we have also called for more training for older people in the employment guidelines; and Parliament approved an important report on healthcare for elderly people."

ENDS

Notes To Editors

Liz Lynne MEP, was responsible for making sure that discrimination on the grounds of age was kept in the EU Employment Directive, which means from 2006 it will be illegal to discriminate against someone in the workplace on grounds of age.