No fixed retirement age from October 2011

Under the proposal, employers would not be allowed to dismiss staff because they had reached the age of 65, the BBC reports. The Government hopes the change will encourage people to work for longer, against a background of an ageing population. That could ease the strain on public finances as more people continue to pay tax, while at the same time claiming the state pension. Activists have argued it could inject billions of pounds extra into the economy. Employment Minister Edward Davey: "This isn't forcing people to retire later, it gives them the choice" Read more...