Over-65s should 'have right to keep working'

11:39 29th June 2009

A parliamentary investigation has recommended that companies should not be allowed to retire staff compulsorily on their 65th birthday.

The Guardian reports that the Commons work and pension select committee study suggested people over the traditional retirement age should be allowed to continue to work for as long as they are fit and able to do so, with full holiday and other entitlements.

IT training or doing a new computer course could help people approaching 65 keep up to date with current skills.

By allowing the retirement age to be overlooked, the committee hopes to avoid many pensioners ending up in poverty due to the recession and financial crisis.

Labour MP Terry Rooney said: "There are an awful lot of people now reaching pension age who are finding that their pension pots are nothing like as big as they expected them to be."

He added that these people have now found themselves in a situation where they risk getting the sack at 65 and being unable to then find a new job.

The work and pensions committee is appointed to keep an eye on the policies of the department for work and pensions.