Strengthening protection of older workers
Age Discrimination Commissioner Susan Ryan has called for federal anti-discrimination laws to be strengthened to protect older people from discrimination as the federal government finalises its review of the national laws. Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer, Wayne Swan met with MPs and senators last week.
Age Discrimination Commissioner Susan Ryan has called for federal anti-discrimination laws to be strengthened to protect older people from discrimination as the federal government finalises its review of the national laws.
Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer, Wayne Swan, and Employment Participation Minister, Kate Ellis, met with MPs and senators last week from across the political spectrum in Canberra to ask them to become community advocates for older people to be given job opportunities.
Ms Ryan said she would like age limits and caps to be removed in areas such as workers’ compensation, superannuation and licensing.
“I am convinced employment discrimination is the worst form of age discrimination,” she told The Australian.
“The age discrimination act has a lot of exemptions. It may be that through these consolidations the exemptions could be tightened.
“If a person is 67 and they have a workplace accident, they can’t get workers compensation and as a result people don’t want to employ them.
“It’s an opportunity to limit and get rid of those exemptions that can’t be justified.”
Ms Ellis also encouraged MPs and senators to work with businesses in their local communities to encourage them to take on mature-age workers and make the most of the government’s new support scheme.
“Members and senators know from assisting constituents in their local community that we are constantly hearing about the particular challenges faced by mature-age people in having their skills and experience valued and finding and keeping a job,” Ms Ellis said.
“Despite the many benefits of hiring mature-age workers, the fact is that when a person aged 50 or over is out of work for a while, they often find it very hard to get their foot back in the door.”
Do you agree anti-discrimination laws need to be strengthened to protect older workers? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
