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EFA/DWP Flexible Retirement Report 20 June 2002 Ms Sam Mercer, campaign director of the Employers Forum on Age, says: 'The research that the Employers Forum on Age (EFA) carried out on behalf of the DWP for this new Flexible Retirement report emphasises that flexible retirement presents a solution to changing demographics, longer working lives and the pensions crisis. 'The EFA campaigns for an age-diverse workforce and our members see flexible retirement as a ‘real-workplace’ solution which will help them meet the many challenges highlighted by the current retirement / pensions debate. Flexible retirement enables employers to retain experienced older employees in the face of skills shortages. It also enables them to offer greater age equality to their employees and, with legislation on age discrimination due to come into force by 2006, this is must be a key concern. 'However, employers tell us that the current complex and difficult IR rules are hampering the introduction of more flexible retirement policies – policies that are now seen to deliver significant business benefit and that meet growing demand from employees. It is imperative that the Government listens to employers and enters dialogue on IR rules. EFA members demand that Government introduces greater flexibility in occupational pensions urgently - as promised in its manifesto.' back to the archive |
