Creating a level playing field for older workers is an important priority for the economic future of Australia and the health and wellbeing of older people, according to COTA Australia.
The Australian Law Reform Commission’s report, Access All Ages – Older Workers and Commonwealth Laws, released today, identifies legal barriers to workforce participation by seniors and makes recommendations across superannuation, social security, employment, insurance and compensation law.
COTA Australia welcomes all the report’s recommendations and strongly supports the key recommendation that the Federal Government develops a National Mature Age Workforce Plan.
“Too many times I still hear people over 55 tell me how difficult it is to find or keep jobs, despite the wealth of experience and skills they have to offer,” Chief Executive Ian Yates said today.
“The stereotype of workers having a “use by” date still persists, despite the changing nature of work and many people’s need or desire for a longer working life.
“The Access All Ages recommendations would go a significant way towards breaking down these prejudices and eliminating age discrimination in the workplace.
“There’s a role for everyone in helping breakdown age barriers and improve the recruitment of mature age job seekers and retention of older workers – from recruitment services and human resources managers, to employer peak bodies, to governments and older people themselves.
“Our experiences and expectations of ageing are undergoing great change. There is immense opportunity to transform the workforce and economy by better utilising the passion, skills and know- how of older workers,” Mr Yates said.
“The one additional recommendation should be the strengthening of the Age Discrimination Act which is by far the weakest of all the anti-discrimination laws. The government’s withdrawal of legislation to consolidate all the anti-discrimination Acts has left older people more legally exposed to discrimination than any other group.
Mr Yates called on the Federal Government to honour its election promise and introduce a consolidated anti-discrimination law in the current parliamentary session.
Media contact: Ian Yates 0418 835 439, Jane Garcia 0434 489 533