TUC: Ability to do the job is what matters
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber comments on the government’s decision to scrap the default retirement age:
“This will stop employers from dismissing people on an arbitrary basis just because they have reached 65.
“Employees should be judged on their ability to do the job, not their age.”
Last July Mr Barber commented: “We need to go further to give people real choice about how and when they retire with new rights for flexible working. This can end the retirement cliff-edge where people work full-time one day and stop work the next. Many would prefer a phased retirement.
“Not everyone wants to work longer and may not be fit enough to continue. Today’s move should be about choice, not an expectation that people will work longer so don’t need decent pensions.”
