Launch of Human Rights and Older People Policy Paper
Launch of Human Rights and Older People Policy Paper
“Thoughts on human rights and older people in Ireland and the importance of human rights'
By Senator Feargal Quinn
Dublin City Hall
10 December 2013 (UN Human Rights Day)
11am – 12.30pm
Launch of Human Rights and Older People Policy Paper
10 December 2013 (UN Human Rights Day)
“Thoughts on human rights and older people in Ireland and the importance of human rights'
By Senator Feargal Quinn
Introduction
I am delighted to be here at the launch of the Human Rights and Older People Policy Paper. The paper is already serving as a catalyst to open the discussion on human rights and older people.
I think the paper could be described as ‘entrepreneurial’ as it has a definite entrepreneurial approach to introducing the issue of human rights and older people to the public agenda.
Combating Negative Attitudes towards older people
Getting back to more serious matters, as the paper highlights, ageism continues to be a major problem in Ireland. Since the economic and financial crisis, some politicians have alluded to older people as a burden on society while frustrated younger people have accused them of ‘stealing their jobs’. I am not entirely convinced as many studies have shown that the economic benefits may actually outweigh the negatives. Indeed the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams suggested to the UK Parliament that negative stereotypes of the ageing population are “fostering attitudes of contempt and leaving older people vulnerable to verbal and physical abuse”.
Negative ageist attitudes towards older people are so ingrained in our society that we need to challenge them. Indeed, it could be argued that they are much more unchallenged unlike other forms of prejudice like sexism or racism.
Indeed, stereotypes of older people bent over and walking with the aid of a walking stick are part of our society. A new book by Lynne Segal entitled “Out of Time, The Pleasures and the Perils of Ageing” which addresses the stigma surrounding older people points out that the majority of older people are actually not like the stereotype and are actually still active and still ‘engaged in life’. She says that almost everyone does not seem themselves as old and the first thing an older person says is ‘I do not feel old’. Indeed, in a 2009 survey of Americans, those over 50 claimed to feel at least ten years younger than their actual age; it is amazing to consider that many over 65 said that they felt up to 20 years younger.
We have some way to go to reach the heights of Asian society which is renowned for its reverence for older people. You see them in parks a lot, doing tai chi, playing cards doing ballroom dancing, group sing-songs and using public gym equipment.
For one thing, we need to change the attitudes of politicians and policy-makers so that ageing is not just seen as simply a social welfare issue. The paper highlights this need for change. Indeed, in a wider worldwide sense, there is clear evidence, for example, that when “older people’s right to social security is realized, there is a positive impact on reduction of poverty rates, restoration of older people’s dignity, reduction of child labour and increased enrolment in schools.”[1]
Society needs to move beyond seeing older people as ‘charity cases’ and move towards a human-rights approach where they enjoy the same rights as everyone else. This paper demonstrates some ways in which the general public and indeed older people are made more aware of the links between older people and human rights. This is very much needed. For example, a Eurobarometer survey from last year found that 35% of persons in Ireland surveyed in were notaware of their rights when the victims of discrimination or harassment.
Right to work
As a businessman and employer, I would like to concentrate on the rights of older people to access work.
As a society we have made great progress on age discrimination when it comes to the workplace. However, I believe that we can do more and look at the right of older people to work – this is a fundamental human rights issue.
Firstly, we also have to make more of an effort to reduce the stigma around older workers. The private sector has a large part to play in this. We have to encourage employers need to provide older workers with financial advice, re-skilling or opportunities to move to part-time work or even to embark on new careers.
Secondly, also have to look at the retirement age.The word “retirement” should almost be banned in my opinion. People who wish to continue to work and contribute to the nation’s wealth should be allowed to do so. Currently, there is no statutory retirement age for employees in the private sector in Ireland, although many written employment contracts (including those in the public service) specify a retirement age of 65. Many other employers apply a "normal retirement age" which is founded upon common practices within that particular sector.
I am not talking about forcing anybody to work up to a certain age or to work beyond that age but about a situation where a person is able and willing to continue working, but is prevented from doing so by a compulsory retirement age.
I think that we should remove the label from employees - one could term it a “best before" date so that ageism will become a thing of the past. Unfortunately too many employers do not see the benefits of hiring older workers. Businesses have to realise that they are opening up a whole new section of the workforce with unique skills and experience by keeping on or indeed hiring older employees. I was very aware of this as an employer.
This is particularly important as a recent Eurobarometer survey has found that almost three quarters of Irish people actually want to work after 65, and more than half those surveyed are against any compulsory retirement age.[2]
Some people cannot wait to move on to a life of retirement. Others are greatly distressed at the thought of stopping work and argue that they are fully capable of carrying on. Others again would like to work part-time or in a reduced capacity but find that the taxation and pension regimes make that more difficult to arrange than it should be. That is something that needs to be addressed.
Making compulsory retirement illegal would be a measure with considerable benefits with almost no cost at all. At a personal level, no one would be forced to work beyond whatever was the normal retirement age for their occupation. At a business level, no one would be forced to go on employing a person who was incapable of doing their job. Such a change would be a huge boon to people who would prefer to go on working. In most cases, there would be a clear benefit to the companies for which they work. To the wider community, the benefits of having someone continue to be economically active are too obvious to need spelling out. From an economic perspective it should be clear to the government. The Economist has said that:
“Working longer has three great advantages. The employee gets more years of wages; the government receives more in taxes and pays out less in benefits; and the economy grows faster as more people work for longer. Older workers are a neglected consumer market”.[3]
We must remember that older persons often have more experience and indeed better personal skills that are particularly vital for certain sectors, such as the service sector.Indeed, as a businessman and an employer, I made it my business to employ older people as there were so many benefits. Employers should be made aware that compulsory retirement at 65 years is disastrous and wrong. For instance, I can think of one woman was working in Superquinn in here 80s. It was a privilege to see her enthusiasm, ability and the example she sets for others. I am also reminded of another man who worked in the Superquinn branch in Ballinteer. He approached me early in December 1993 to say that he and his wife had decided that when he reached 65 years on 31 December he would finish working. He also took the opportunity to tell me that he had worked in many jobs beforehand but for his last nine years he had not lost a day at work. He said that from the age of 56 to 65 he had looked forward to going to work every morning and he often looked at his watch in the evening expecting to see 4pm only to discover that it was 6pm. In the mornings he always looked forward to going to work and so do many others.
The default retirement age has been abolished in the North (and indeed the UK) since 2011. Employers are no longer able to rely on 65 as the safe age at which to retire employees. As there is no longer a statutory default retirement age, employers must be able to objectively justify dismissing at 65 or indeed any set age for retirement. This is known as an “employer-justified retirement age”. To justify a compulsory retirement age, the employer must be able to demonstrate that it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. We really should be looking to align the whole country in this way. Why can one person be forced to retire on this side of the border while across the border, it is a completely different state of affairs? Being able to access work is a basic human right but for older people, it is often impeded.
Indeed, look at the human rights issue of older people finding ageism when it comes to promotion in employment. How do we tackle this?
Attitudes in Europe are changing. The Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt recently said that half of today's children in Sweden can expect to become 100 years old and there has to be a change in the way the Swedes view their work life. Reinfeldt said that Sweden needs a discussion on the working age and that Swedes should be prepared to work until they are 75 and be willing to change careers in the middle of their working life.
I think we may see more challenges to Irish legislation regarding working age and I think that a lot more consideration should be given to this area.
Others issues on human rights and older people to consider
There are a wide variety of issues tackled in the paper. For instance, there is a great need to tackle elder abuse and financial abuse of older people. Financial abuse and fraud of older people is something that is defiantly under-documented and under-reported by older persons for a variety of reasons. These are key human rights issues. We need to encourage more whistle-blowing in the area and provide easier ways for older people to realize their basic human rights in this area. We as a society could also do more to collect data and information on human rights abuse of older people. That will allow us to better address issues. If we do not have enough information on the causes of violations of their human rights, then they will continue unchallenged.
Some of the major issues included in this paper include the stigma surrounding diseases such as dementia and indeed how we need to look completely differently at the relationship between ageing and disability.
From a business perspective, I would also like to see more done on tackle things like age limits imposed on financial services which limit older person’s access to credit. Thus older people may be discriminated against if they want to start a new business.
The rights of older people touch upon a variety of issues and the private sector must also play a role. For instance, look at technology – it is interesting to note that 53% of EU citizens feel that the use of technology to interact with customers instead of traditional means is a major obstacle for older people. 43% of Irish respondents considered technology to be a major obstacle for older persons. I think that businesses and indeed local and central government need to make things like their websites much more easily accessible to older people.
Government also needs to ensure that older people’s human rights when it comes to political engagement are realized. If they do not, they risk losing support from this growing block of supporters.
Conclusion
I think that this paper is an excellent step to drive home the message that so much more can be done so that older people are able to exercise their rights. I must particularly highlight how the views and experiences of older people have been ‘listened’ to and taken on board.
Speaking as (the eldest) member of the Oireachtas, I know that the paper will be an important resource for politicians and policy-makers on how they can design legislation and policies to ensure the rights of older people.
We have to move beyond viewing older people as a ‘burden on society’ to realizing their varied and immense contribution to Irish life. Unfortunately, older people are sometimes simply unable to make such a contribution as there are too many barriers still in place.
In that respect, the paper provides concrete ways in which older people can realized their basic human rights.
Now is the time that we really need to think differently about the rights of older people in Ireland.
Ultimately I think this paper challenges how our society views older people. For that reason I believe that it is a great service to older people and I am delighted to launch it here today.
==END==
[1]
[2]
74% percent of Irish people surveyed want to keep working after the present 65-year retirement age with 57% opposed to imposed retirement.
[3]
’70 or bust’ in The Economist (7th April, 2011)