18 April 2012

Seniors welcome $1000 payment for older workers

Older Australians have welcomed the announcement today of a $1000 payment for businesses hiring mature age workers.

The workers must be aged 50 plus and kept on the company payroll for at least three months.

National Seniors chief executive Michael O'Neill said: "This payment is a good first step in overcoming the barriers to employment facing older workers".

"If you lose your job at 50, getting back into the workforce is an enormous challenge," he said.

"Official statistics show mature age workers can languish in unemployment three times longer than younger workers."

"This initiative must be part of a wider package that brings older workers onto a level playing field.

"We'd like to see greater training and advancement opportunities for older Australians and a refinement of existing age discrimination laws, " said O'Neill.

National Seniors research reveals that mature age workers are dogged by negative stereotypes despite vast reserves of corporate knowledge and low levels of absenteeism.

A full announcement will be made later today by federal Minister for Ageing Mark Butler.

Michael O'Neill is available for comment

Media: Sarah Saunders 0409 055 156

---

With 250,000 members Australia-wide, National Seniors is the consumer lobby for the over 50s.