Political parties 'should scrap forced retirement legislation'

People over the age of 65 should be allowed to continue working in their sales jobs for as long as they want, according to industry experts.

Age Concern and Help the Aged are currently challenging all political parties to commit to scrapping forced retirement legislation.

The call comes as it was revealed that the use of the mandatory retirement age soared during the recession, with over 100,000 people forced to retire on or after turning 65.

In a bill of key manifesto challenges launched by Age Concern and Help the Aged, the charity is also calling for the basic state pension to be re-linked to earnings by 2012.

A recent survey undertaken by the charity revealed that employers have used the forced retirement age as a cheap and easy alternative to implement redundancy during the recession.

Michelle Mitchell, Age Concern and Help the Aged charity director, said: "It's the most disturbing example of age discrimination which still tarnishes later life for so many people."

Last month, Laith Khalaf, pensions analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said that any scrapping would help over 65s continue to work in sales jobs.

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Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Filed: 25-02-2010