Gordon Lishman‚ Director General of Age Concern England said:

“There is no justice in forcing people to retire because of their birth date. It relegates skilled‚ willing workers to the sidelines and completely contradicts the Government’s position on removing unfair obstacles in employment and longer working lives.

“Mandatory retirement ages send out the message that older workers are not welcome by employers‚ ignoring the immense value that they can bring to their job and to society.”

Kate Jopling‚ Head of Public Affairs at Help the Aged said:

"Forcing competent individuals to give up their jobs simply because of their age flies in the face of common sense.  Our ageing society will increasingly rely on older workers - whatever the sector and however senior the role.

"As the Government lays out its plans for an Equality Bill‚ the continued practice of forcing people to retire looks increasingly unjustifiable.  Age equality is not just an abstract concept‚ it is an absolute essential to the creation of a just and prosperous society in the future."