If Whitehall can do it then why can't everyone else asks MEP?

4.28.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 6th Oct 2008

Liz Lynne, the Lib Dem Euro-MP for the West Midlands, has welcomed reports that the mandatory retirement age is to be scrapped for junior civil servants, but has asked why the Government refuses to apply the same standard elsewhere.

The Cabinet Office has announced that, within the next two years, Whitehall will change its policy of seeking compulsory retirement of workers over the age of 65.

Current legislation states that people can be asked to leave their employment upon reaching retirement age, although if they wish to stay on this must be taken into consideration before the final decision is made.

Since 2006, ministerial departments have abolished the mandatory retirement age for about 50% of civil service employees. The latest announcement will roll out this programme to all civil service workers.

Speaking today Liz Lynne, who is the Vice- President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee in the European Parliament said:

"I am very pleased that Whitehall has chosen to lead the way in abolishing this unfair, discriminatory practice that assumes that people over 65 are not up to the job.

"However, it is disappointing that while those that work so closely with the Government will benefit from Whitehall's decision, thousands of older people across the country still face the prospect of imposed retirement by their private employers.

"The mandatory retirement age does not just mean people may loose their job, it means that people who have worked for the same company their entire lives are suddenly, upon their 65 birthday, forced to lose part of their identity. For many people their work is a source of great pride, and to say they are no longer capable of doing it based on the date on a calendar is a disgrace.

"Not only that, but in a time where many face an uncertain financial future, the sudden cliff edge of mandatory retirement ages means that some older people may not be able to save effectively and will be forced into poverty.

"I therefore call on the government to follow Whitehall's example and begin a concerted effort to abolish the mandatory retirement age."

ENDS

For further information, comment or to book an interview, please contact Liz Lynne on 0032 2284 7521 or 0776 445 2725.

Notes:

Ms Lynne has been an active campaigner on mandatory retirement ages for a number of years. Her press release on the recent opinion of the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice regarding the UK's mandatory retirement age laws can be found at:

http://www.lizlynne.org.uk/news/001094/mep_disappointed_by_european_court_ruling_on_mandatory_retirement_age.html

Liz was also ALDE shadow- rapporteur for the Equal Treatment in employment directive in 2000 that brought about the first change to the Government's policy on mandatory retirement age requiring companies to take on board an employ's wish to remain in deciding on forced retirement.

She has also been instrumental in fighting for a new directive on anti-discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and age in the provision of goods and services. Her report, which spurred the commission to bring forward this directive, can be found at:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+REPORT+A6-2008-0159+0+DOC+WORD+V0//EN&language=EN