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date: 13 July 2009

embargo: For immediate release

TUC welcomes decision to bring forward review of default retirement age

Responding to the Government's announcement today (Monday) that Ministers will bring forward a review of the UK's default retirement age which currently allows employers to require staff to retire at 65, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'We welcome the early review of the default retirement age. It cannot be right that an employer can sack someone simply for being too old. Employees should have choice - neither forced by employers to give up work, nor forced by inadequate pensions into working longer than they should.

'A key challenge as we live and stay active longer is developing the right kind of jobs, support and training for older workers.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (300 words) issued 13 Jul 2009