Age discrimination in spotlight as pensions crisis looms

Age discrimination in employment is spotlighted as the UK faces a looming pensions crisis, according to a report in the Observer newspaper by the man in charge of sorting it all out, Pensions Secretary Alan Johnson.

Writing on Sunday (10/10/04) before the publication of a report due from the independent Pensions Commission, Mr Johnson says there are problems building up that will be felt in 15 or 20 years time, unless we all work longer.

He says: “Helping people to work longer is a crucial part of the solution. Latest figures show that more than a million people who want to work past state pension age are already doing so. Where people choose to work later we'll give them a higher weekly state pension - £120 if you delay taking your pension for five years - or a £25,000 lump sum. Our approach will be to tackle age discrimination and give people the choice, not insist that they work past 65.”

Read the full story at Guardian Unlimited.