CBI criticised for attempting to reopen debate on DRA
scrappage
Attempts to continue debating the scrapping of the default
retirement age are simply unhelpful, say industry experts from Age
UK.
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) caused controversy
this week by saying that 'working beyond the age of 65 is not going
to be possible for everyone,' especially in certain, physically
demanding roles.
CBI director-general designate, John Cridland, said, "The
default retirement age (DRA) has helped staff think about when it
is right to retire, and has also enabled employers to plan more
confidently for the future.
"With the scrapping of the DRA in April, a legislative void is
opening up. We need to modernise our employment law framework to
ensure that it is fit for purpose. In the majority of cases this
will not be an issue, but in a minority it will be a serious
problem for all concerned.”
But chief executive of The Age and Employment Network (TAEN),
Chris Ball and charity director of Age UK, Michelle Mitchell, have
commented that the CBI's attempt to reopen the debate would be both
'backward looking and unhelpful.'
Ball and Mitchell went on to say that the issue was a 'wasteful
provision' that forces people to stop working 'when they are ready
and able to continue.'