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<p>The Equality Act prohibits age discrimination in a variety of fields, including
employment, the provision of services and the exercise of public functions. Differential
treatment based on a person’s age is permitted, but only where this can be objectively
justified.</p><p>Other legislation in recent years has also helped to tackle ageism
– for example the abolition of the default retirement age in 2011 – but our approach
goes beyond basic legal protections. For example, to support older workers to remain
in work, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Government’s Business Champion
for Older Workers are working with employer organisations – including CIPD, British
Chambers of Commerce, ACAS and Local Enterprise Partnerships – to encourage employers
to support their older workers, retain them in the workforce and benefit from their
skills and experience.</p><p>For those who become unemployed, the Government’s Plan
for Jobs provides new funding to ensure more people, including those aged 50 and over,
get tailored Jobcentre Plus support to help them find work and to build the skills
they need to get into work. As part of the Jobcentre Plus offer for people aged 50
and over, we are also providing dedicated support through 50 PLUS Champions, to ensure
they fully benefit from the Plan for Jobs package and existing Jobcentre Plus support.</p>
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