The government has published draft age discrimination regulations and a consultation paper, Equality and Diversity: Coming of Age with legislation due to come into force on 1st October 2006.

The new rules mean that setting retirement ages below the age of 65 will be banned unless an employer can justify an early retirement age, and employers will also have to consider requests made by employees wanting to work beyond their retirement age.

Introducing the draft regulations, Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson said: “Individuals should have the choice to carry on working if they want to. This is not about forcing people to work longer, it is about freedom to choose.

"Equally, to thrive in a competitive market British business increasingly bases its employment and training decisions on talent not age. Employers know that they cannot afford to ignore the skills of any worker – young or old."

The consultation ends on 17 October 2005. For full details, visit: www.dti.gov.uk/er/equality/age.htm