Graduates call for end to retirement age

Compulsory retirement ages should be scrapped and employees be able to choose when to retire, according to a survey published this week by the Association of Graduate Recruiters and the Employers Forum on Age.

But the survey of 600 recent graduates found a majority thought it legitimate to discriminate against older people working with young customers in fashion shops. A minority agreed that only older workers should be allowed to sell financial products to the over 50s. The government is due to outlaw age discrimination in employment by 2006.