MEDIA RELEASE: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST ACT NOW TO HELP OLDER AUSTRALIANS INTO WORK: 30 OCTOBER 2015
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST ACT NOW TO HELP OLDER AUSTRALIANS INTO WORK
The FiftyUp Club is calling on the Federal Government to act now and make more changes to a government program failing to increase employment prospects for older Australians who want to join the workforce.
The Restart Wage Subsidy was introduced in August 2014 to provide employers with a $10,000 incentive to hire and retain job seekers over the age of 50. The target of the program was to provide 32,000 FiftyUp’s with a job but the scheme only found jobs for just over 2,300 people[1].
“We are pleased to hear the government is re-working this program, however they need to create more appropriate roles for older Australians in the workplace. The FiftyUp’s are keen, loyal and experienced workers who want to make a contribution,” FiftyUp Club spokesperson Christopher Zinn said.
“The FiftyUp Club is calling on the Federal Government to reform the Restart program and invest in older Australians by making it easier for them to get a job.”
Research by the FiftyUp Club shows two out of three respondents would continue working after 65 for one of the following;
• lower income tax rates;
• more part-time opportunities;
• jobs specifically designed for older workers;
• or the opportunity to mentor younger workers.
Older Australians should be embraced in the workplace. The government must ensure that age is no longer used to discrimate against an employee.
FiftyUp Club research shows that 1 in 5 over 50s have experienced discrimination at work because of their age. Findings from the report by the Australian Human Rights Commission present an even harsher picture. The results show that over a quarter of Australians aged 50 years and over report that they had experienced some form of age discrimination in the last two years[2].
The FiftyUp Club has over 135,000 members and represents their interests of the over 50’s. It is free to join by visiting www.FiftyUpClub.Com.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Jackie Levett, FiftyUp Club media contact
EMAIL: Jackie@fiftyupclub.com
PHONE: 0434 995 611
[1] New Daily, XCLUSIVE: Govt plan for older workers falls short, http://thenewdaily.com.au/money/2015/10/29/restarting-restart/
[2] Australian Human Rights (2015) National prevalence survey of age discrimination in the workplace https://www.google.com.au Commission /webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Human+Rights+Commission%E2%80%99s+National+Prevalence+Survey+of+Age+Discrimination
