Unions have welcomed the inclusion of a bill that would end forced retirements in the Government legislative programme, which was published yesterday.
The last Government committed to introducing legislation to allow, but not compel, workers to remain in their job until age 66, in line with the qualifying age for the State pension.
Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill was completed in May 2024, but the bill had not started its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas before the election was called in November last year.
The legislation has been included as one of 21 bills in the listings for priority publication in the Spring session.
"While legislation increased the compulsory retirement age to 70 for most public servants in 2018, workers in the private sector have been left with soft measures which have proved inadequate for far too many workers wanting to remain in their job past the age of 65," said Owen Reidy, General Secretary, Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
"The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has long argued there is a sizeable and growing number of workers who are forced to retire earlier than they would wish because of the compulsory age of retirement in their employment contract or company policies, usually 65."
"Thousands of private sector workers who turn 65 this year will have their working life cut short because of delays enacting this legislation," Mr Reidy said.
"The bill must now progress as a priority," he added.
