PLANS for the government to scrap the default retirement age has been hailed a victory against ageism.

Under the proposal, from October 2011, employers will not be allowed to dismiss staff because they have reached the age of 65.

Kirk Davies, resources manager for Age Concern Swansea, said: "This is excellent news for older people, everybody stands to win from the scrapping of forced retirement.

"Older people over 65 will at last have full employment rights for the first time.

"Age Concern Swansea has always said that it was totally unfair that people had been forced out of jobs because of their age and this move is in the right direction in the fight against ageism and discrimination."

The government hopes the change will encourage people to work for longer, against a background of an ageing population.

Mr Davies said: "Their increased buying power and public finances will receive a boost from more people paying taxes for longer and also enable people to save for longer for their retirement."

Joy Stafford, chair of Swansea Council's Network 50 Plus group, said individuals should be given the choice to work.

She said: "The worrying thing when one retires is often a loss of identity or role which could have a great implication on their health.

"It is helping their self esteem and also their financial situation. The proposal will make people feel they have a place in society."

The new plans allow for a six-month transition from the existing regulations, following the announcement in the budget that the default retirement age would be phased out from April 2011.

Councillor Peter May, who is the older people's champion, said: "This is a victory against ageism. We hear so many stories about people having to give up their work at 65 when they are perfectly fit and able to do their job."

Gill Evans, chairwoman of Loughor OAP Association, said she felt there should be a fixed age for retirement.

She said: "There has got to be an age for people to retire.

"It would allow more jobs for the younger generation. People only want to work for the extra money not really for the love of the job.

"If people worked beyond 65 there would be less volunteers for community causes and charity work."

But Terry O'Reilly, a volunteer at Topic House in Townhill, said it was up to individual choice.

He said: "I feel sorry for those people who are not given a choice.

"I have known people who have had to leave their workplace because of their age and it is a shame."

His colleague, Barbara Thomas, 59, said it depended on people's jobs.

She said: "I would love to work. I would not like to be told I could not work if I was healthy enough to work.

"Older people have a lot of experience that youngsters could listen to."

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk