Older workers 'should still earn a living working part-time'

Tuesday, May 4th 2010

Older workers should be able to work part-time and still earn a living, an expert has suggested.

Dr Ros Altmann is an independent pensions expert and a governor of the London School of Economics.

She says reforms are needed in the pensions industry and measures should be taken to help retirees.

Mothers with young children receive certain levels of protection and flexibility that should be afforded to older workers to allow them to continue working, Dr Altmann advises.

"None of the three main parties' policies really get to the root of the pensions problem and are more tinkering at the edges, rather than the radical overhaul that we need," she adds.

The general election will be held on Thursday May 6th, but Dr Altmann says the three main parties have not done enough to assist this sector.

Ending the default retirement age is one measure being considered by all parties, however it is not enough to solve the problem, she continues.