The government will today announce plans to scrap the default retirement age in the UK from October 2011. Under the current system, employers can force staff to retire at the age of 65 without paying any financial compensation. But ministers argue that increasing life expectancy mean the limit should be scrapped.
The Business Department said the move would also help employers by removing the administrative burden of statutory retirement procedures. "With the default retirement age [DRA] removed there is no reason to keep employees' right to request working beyond retirement or for employers to give them a minimum of six months notice of retirement.
"Although the Government is proposing to remove the DRA, it will still be possible for individual employers to operate a compulsory retirement age, provided that they can objectively justify it. Examples could include air traffic controllers and police officers," said the department.
Rachel Krys, the campaign director of the Employers Forum on Age, hailed the move as a "victory" against ageism. She said: "This is an incredible leap forward on employment practices and great news for individuals. After years of campaigning, the law will finally reflect the fact that it is fundamentally discriminatory to force someone to retire just because they reach 65."
