EMPLOYMENT AMONG OLDER WORKERS

Early day motion 341, tabled 2 February 2000 by Ann Cryer (Labour). Signed by 108 members.

That this House observes with regret the lower earnings of workers over the age of 50 and the smaller proportion of workers over the age of 50 who are in employment, both in comparison with other age groups and historically; notes that the proportion of employees aged over 50 is lowest amongst large public and private sector employers; recognises that many people in their late middle years wish to be usefully employed but are not; welcomes measures taken by Governments in recent years, including the New Deal for 50 plus, and acknowledges that these measures have not had time to yield results; and calls upon the Government and other employers to put more resources into the encouragement and career development of their older employees rather than into enhancements of early retirement benefits as an addition to an active strategy to discourage discrimination against older workers.

Signatures by party: Labour 82, Liberal Democrat 13, Labour/Co-operative 9, Conservative 3, UUP 1.