A NEW BILL looks to introduce a voluntary system of retirement to replace the current compulsory requirement at age 65.
Proposed by Labour TD Anne Ferris, the Bill would amend the Employment Equality Act 1998 and follow a similar path to the United Kingdom and United States who have both outlawed compulsory retirement ages.
“So long as an employee can still do the job then, they should be able to make their own minds up about when to retire,” Deputy Ferris said.
“More and more jobs these days are in areas like service provision and rely on brain power more than physical stamina.”
Just because a person hits a significant birthday shouldn’t automatically mean exclusion from the workforce if that person wants to continue their working life.
She added that the emphasis must be on the “voluntary” aspect, instead of a decision made by HR departments.
A similar bill, proposed by Fianna Fáil Senator Mary White in 2012, was defeated in a Private Members Motion.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said at the time said the Bill was “premature” as the issues would be considered by the interdepartmental Working and Retirement Group.
This group “will prepare preliminary proposals detailing measures which may encourage participation and retention in the labour market of older workers”, the Social Protection Minister said last year.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say