Website challenges age discrimination

The government has launched a website aimed at ending age discrimination in the workplace in preparation for the new law that will outlaw the practice by 2006.

The Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) Age Positive website provides practical help for employers and individuals on combating age discrimination at work.

It includes an evaluation of the government's voluntary Code of practice on age diversity in employment, launched in June 1999. About a third of employers are now aware of the code, although less than one in 10 has actually seen it. The proportion of firms with age discrimination policies has also increased since the code was launched, from 26% to 33%.

DWP minister Ian McCartney said "Too often in the past older workers have been written off when they still have so much to offer. A third of people aged 50 to pension age are economically inactive. We need to nail the myth that if you're over 50 you're over the hill".

* The Age Positive website is at www.agepositive.gov.uk