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date: 5 March 2009
embargo: For immediate release
Responding to the judgement announced today (Thursday) by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Heyday's legal challenge to employers' right to use mandatory retirement ages, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
'With the recession putting more financial pressure on older workers, today's judgement is a blow to those who are perfectly able and willing to work past 65, or who need to go on working just have enough money to survive. Employers should not be allowed to use age as a quick and easy way of getting rid of employees.
'Age discrimination is still an issue in many workplaces. The ECJ judgement will leave the door open for businesses to ditch staff as soon as they hit 65, regardless of whether or not they are doing a good job and whether or not they want to stop work.
'The Government must now act to ensure that UK legislation allows people to work past their retirement age.'
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