People should be able to continue working into their late 60s and 70s to help Britain recover from recession, a Government watchdog has concluded.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission said that older workers should not be forced to retire at 65 and should be free to demand request flexible conditions including shorter hours or working from home.
The Government body says that if people were allowed to work for an additional 18 months it would save the country £15 billion a year and reduce the national debt.
In a report published today, the Commission provides research showing that the state retirement age is considered to be too young by more than half of older workers.
The House of Lords today has the opportunity to abolish the default retirement age with peers expected to recommend amending the Equality Bill.
Harriet Harman, the Minister for Women and Equality, has announced that she supports calls to scrap the default retirement age and allow older workers to request flexible working.
However, the Government is currently reviewing the law and will not back this week’s amendment which means it is unlikely to pass through Parliament.
The Conservatives have announced that they want the state pension age to quickly rise to cut state spending – although this will not begin under later in the decade under the Tory plan.
Baroness Margaret Prosser, Deputy Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: “Radical change is what older Britons are telling us needs to happen for them to stay in the workforce. Employers with a focus on recruiting and retaining older workers on flexible working arrangements are telling us it makes good business sense, allowing them to recruit and retain talent while meeting the flexible needs of their customers.
“Keeping older Britons healthy and in the workforce also benefits the economy more broadly by decreasing welfare costs and increasing the spending power of older Britons.”
The Commission warns that the recent recession and economic downturn means that older workers may now be required.
The Telegraph