Compulsory retirement ages will have to be justified by employers in the future.

Under the Equality Act, which became law, age discrimination is legislated against, although some of the provisions will not come in just yet.

Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas explained: ’The age discrimination provisions of the Equality Act 2017 mean that. if employers wish to retain compulsory or default retirement age, or wish to retire people on a case-by-case basis based on age, it will only be lawful where it will achieve an aim which can be reasonably - and objectively - justified.’

He told Tynwald that the Cabinet Office was working with employers to prepare them for the implementation of the rules, in 2020.

Mr Thomas, who was responding to a question tabled by Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey), said: ’Experience and case law from the UK, which is relevant here, I believe, probably indicates that very few employers’ professions can objectively justify a compulsory retirement age and therefore it is expected the position on the Isle of Man will be no different.

’Employer-justified retirement ages tend to be used in exceptional circumstances in which an employee has a retirement age under 65.

’For example, posts in the emergency services. which require a significant level of physical fitness, or other occupations requiring exceptional mental and/or physical fitness, such as air traffic controllers.’

The Equality Act legislates against discrimination on grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability and gender reassignment, both in the workplace and the provision of services.