Fact Service May 2010

Issue 20

Age campaigners want U-turn on retirement

The coalition government is facing calls from the leading age campaigner the Employers Forum on Age (EFA) to reconsider its decision and commit fully to removing the outdated retirement rule of a default retirement age of 65.

Despite commitments to abolish the DRA in both manifestos, the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition agreement states that the default retirement age will be “phased out”.

Rachel Krys, EFA campaign director, said it was a missed opportunity for the new government.

"The default retirement age is fundamentally discriminatory, based on the assumption that age affects someone’s ability to do their job. To phase out this policy is not sufficient,." she said.

www.efa.org.uk/press_releases.php/159/conlib-coalition-government-pulls-back-on-retirement-commitments.