CWN - News & Information for Coventry & Warwickshire 20x21spacer.gif (59 bytes)What's New?Search CWN
[16  NOV 98] COVENTRY CITY COUNCIL PRESS RELEASE
New Moves To Combat Age Discrimination

A leading City Councillor has welcomed new moves by the Government to stamp out discrimination against older people in the workplace.

Cllr Tom White, Chair of the Older People Policy Team said:

"Many people in the 50+ age bracket fell they are discriminated against when they apply for work. This is both unfair and short-sighted, since older workers have great deal to offer in terms of skills and experience.

I am therefore delighted that the government has recognised this problem by issuing a draft Code of Good Practice on Age Discrimination. My Policy Team will be studying this with interest and I hope that all employers in the city will want to do so too."

NOTES

Employment minister Andrew Smith is launching the draft Code of Good Practice on Age Discrimination on 16 November 1998.

Coventry is one of 28 pilot authorities taking part in the Government’s "Better Government for Older people" initiative, which aims to improve life for people over 50.

In Great Britain there are around 8 million people aged between 50 and state pension age. Of these 5.63 million (68.6%), are economically active i.e. they are either in employment or registered as unemployed. This compares to an activity rate of 78.5% for all those of working age.

Older people tend to stay unemployed for longer. For example, in October 1997 those aged between 55 and 59 spent an average of 44 weeks unemployed as opposed to 23 weeks for all ages.

In July this year, a report in ‘Labour Market Trends’ noted that "the age of 50 appeared to represent an important point at which people found it more difficult to return to the labour force if they became unemployed of left work for other reasons." The report showed that:

  • One in twenty people over fifty felt they had been discriminated against on grounds of age.
  • Older workers are at least as flexible as their younger counterparts in terms of the types of jobs, and the status of jobs they are looking for.

The Employers Forum on Age has estimated that ageism in employment costs the UK economy £29bn a year.

Further Information:
Roger Hughes, Strategy Co-ordinator, Social Justice 01203 831090

   

1x22rule.gif (89 bytes)

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO 120,000 VISITORS PER MONTH

email chris@cwn.org.uk



MORE ABOUT
COVENTY CITY COUNCIL




Have your say on TalkZone!



Brooklands Grange Hotel & Restaurant



CWN / Politics / Coventry City Council / Press Releases / 16 Nov 98

©1995-2000 Coventry Internet Developments Ltd

This page modified on 10 November 2008 09:49:15AM