MEP who fought for change welcomes new Age Discrimination Law

10.40.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 28th Sep 2006

The West Midlands Liberal Democrats MEP who fought seven years ago to ensure age was included in the European legislation that has now resulted in the UK's new anti-age discrimination laws has welcomed the long-awaited change.

Long-time campaigner for elderly people's rights Liz Lynne MEP, says that the gaps in the law and the negative stereotyping of older people means much more work remains to be done.

Liz Lynne said: "Almost seven years after I first fought to have age discrimination included in the EU's Employment Framework Directive 2000, the UK government has at last fulfilled its obligations and brought forward legislation outlawing discrimination in the workplace on the basis of age.

"I strongly welcome the new laws, which mean employers will have to have far better reasons for not employing older people and will not be able to put age limits in their job adverts.

"We should not forget however, that many, including the current UK Government, fought incredibly fiercely to exclude age from this directive and that it was only due to pressure from the European Liberal Democrats, Age Concern and Eurolink Age that it was included.

"Whilst I welcome the new legislation, the fight is not over - the new law doesn't apply to the provision of goods and services so it will still be lawful for some companies and health care providers to discriminate on the grounds of age, which is clearly an unacceptable situation.

"This is why I will continue to urge the Commission to bring forward a new directive outlawing discrimination on the basis of age in the provision of goods and services. I just hope that this time we get the UK Government's support"

Editor's Note

The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, which ban age discrimination in the workplace, come into effect on 1st October 2006.

Liz Lynne MEP was the ALDE Shadow Rapporteur on the European Employment Directive 2000 that outlaws discrimination in the employment field on the grounds of a person's disability, age, religion or sexuality.

The deadline for introducing this directive into the UK was December 2003 but the Government requested a 12-month delay for legislation on disability and 3-year delay for age.

For further information, comment or to book an interview, please telephone Liz Lynne on 003222845521 (Brussels) or 077644 52725(mobile) or Press Officer Chris Willey on 01789 262785