Stakeholder Position: Association of Retired and Persons over 50

 

 

The Association of Retired and Persons Over 50 is in full accord with other organisations working in this field, in welcoming the Equality Bill and the Commission for Equality and Human Rights which it will establish.

 

The government has acknowledged that discrimination on grounds of age permeates our society and has already taken, in accordance with European requirements, action to reduce age discrimination in the workplace.

 

Our fear is that this new Bill and the related Commission will, in the event, represent a lost opportunity.

 

·         At the heart of the Bill is an anomaly which cannot be ignored, in that a bill which purports to eliminate discrimination will actually introduce inequalities between the different groups represented. For example, the inclusion of goods and services applies to Gender, Race and Disability but is denied to Age, and unlike other groups, there is no obligation upon public bodies to promote age equality.

 

·         We see no indication that the Government intends to back its rhetoric on age discrimination with sufficient resources to make a difference.

 

·         There appears to have been no consideration of what the Human Rights element of the legislation will mean for older people. Such rights are ignored or abused more in the provision (or non-provision) of goods and services than any other element – yet they are excluded.

 

·         In its recently published Regulations on discrimination in the workplace, the Government gives more space to ‘ Justifying Age Discrimination’ than any other topic. What assurances will be given to ensure that promises made to the older generation will not again be surrounded by evasion and get out clauses?

 

Given prevailing attitudes in our society and the propensity of the Government to ensure that its rhetoric on age discrimination is capable of dilution at the point of action, it has to be seen as a matter of surprise and gratitude that Age has appeared as one of the elements of the Bill.

 

Whilst we therefore welcome this legislation and the Commission which will follow, we see its implementation as a challenge rather than simply a cause for rejoicing.

 

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