Media Release - AI GROUP - Mature-age workforce central to boosting productivity
Date published :
26
June
2012
"A key element of our response to skills shortages and boosting
our productivity has to be the engagement of our mature age
workforce," Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said today in
releasing Ai Group's submission on the Australian Law Reform
Commission's Issue Paper GreyAreas - Age Barriers to Work in
Commonwealth Laws. "In an ageing population - with recent Census
data revealing the average working age is now 39 years old and 14%
of the population now 65 years of age or older - there is an
obvious need for good policy to support mature-age workers "While
many businesses are already leading the way, reform is needed in a
number of areas to help simplify the process and make it more
attractive to both employers and potential employees. "As detailed
in our submission, while we agree that barriers to mature age
participation in the workforce need to be broken down and removed,
it is important that new barriers are not inadvertently erected by
the process. For example, creating additional workplace rights for
mature aged workers may inadvertently create a disincentive for
employers to employ them. It is essential that the focus of the
ALRC's inquiry be on removing existing barriers, not on creating
new entitlements.
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