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date: 29 July 2010

embargo: For immediate release

TUC welcomes default retirement move

Welcoming Government plans announced today (Thursday) to phase out the UK's default retirement age by October next year, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'This is a welcome move. It cannot be right that workers lose their protection against arbitrary dismissal overnight because of their age.

'But we need to go further to give people real choice about how and when they retire with new rights for flexible working. This can end the retirement cliff-edge where people work full-time one day and stop work the next. Many would prefer a phased retirement.

'Not everyone wants to work longer and may not be fit enough to continue. Today's move should be about choice, not an expectation that people will work longer so don't need decent pensions.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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Press release (300 words) issued 29 Jul 2010