LIB DEM DOOCEY LEADS REPORT INTO WORKPLACE AGEISM

3.18.40pm GMT Mon 7th Feb 2005

Lib Dem London Assembly member and Chair of the Assembly's Economic Development and Planning Committee, Dee Doocey, is heading a City Hall scrutiny that is investigating the barriers faced by older people trying to find work in the capital.

London Assembly Members will examine the reasons behind the reduced opportunities into the labour market for those who are aged 50 and above and look at ways to help them back into employment. It has been suggested that there might be up to 250,000 Londoners in this age group seeking employment, which is equivalent to seven per cent of the workforce. It is estimated that age discrimination in employment costs UK Plc £31 billion every year.

Dee Doocey said:

"There is a lot of research evidence nationally and internationally about the extent of discrimination in the labour market. However, far less research is available into the causes and extent of ageist assumptions and practices in the workplace.

"When older people are looking for work they should be judged on their skills, knowledge, experience and commitment but as yet there is no specific legislation protecting older workers.

"There is a much bigger challenge than the direct discrimination issues. There is the challenge of how we address indirect discrimination, such as institutional ageism. Many organisations unconsciously discriminate on the basis of age.

"This report will help to move these issues from the margin to the mainstream. It costs our economy £31 billion a year and it is time that we all said that we will no longer tolerate ageism."

ENDS

Notes to editor

The Assembly's Economic Development and Planning Committee will also look into concerns that older people from ethnic minority groups face even greater disadvantage in the labour market.

Representatives from the following organisations attended the meeting:

· Age Concern London

· Greater London Forum for Older People

· London Development Agency

The Economic Development and Planning Committee meeting took place at 10am on Tuesday 1 February in City Hall. The full agenda is available at: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/assembly_meetings.jsp

The Committee is taking written evidence from the public and will be visiting a number of sites across London to assess the extent of the problem and best practice solutions to tackling age discrimination. The report is due out later in the year.

In May 2001, the Employers Forum on Age estimated that Age Discrimination costs the UK £31billion a year