date: 23 September 2008

embargo: For immediate release

Legal advice on default retirement ages is 'hugely disappointing' for employees, says TUC

Responding to today's advice from the Advocate-General, a senior legal advisor to the European Court of Justice, backing default retirement ages in the UK, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'The recommendation of the Advocate-General will be hugely disappointing for the many employees who want to, or need to, continue to work beyond retirement age.

'It makes no sense that we have laws in the UK that aim to remove age discrimination, but include a get-out clause for employers who want to kick people out when they reach 65, regardless of whether or not they are doing their job well.'

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Press release (200 words) issued 23 Sep 2008