The Australian Human Rights Commission has released the Working Past Our 60’s: Reforming Laws and Policies for the Older Worker paper, detailing how age barriers in workers compensation, income insurance and licencing block willing and able older workers continuing to work their 60’s and beyond.

 

“Although most people want to continue to work through their 60’s and beyond, they face a number of external barriers,” Age Discrimination Commissioner Susan Ryan said.

 

“Recent research tells us that, of people aged over 55 years, there are about 2 million who are capable and want to work, but are barred from jobs.”

 

Commissioner Ryan said that most workers compensation stops at 65, or soon after, and income insurance is hard to get after 60.

 

“This is a big barrier for tradespeople who need to insure their business and themselves,” Ms Ryan said.

 

“For example, age bars in licencing stop capable vehicle drivers from getting jobs, even in the current climate of skills shortages.”

 

The report can be found here

http://www.humanrights.gov.au/age/publications.html