ABSTRACT
The UK has been a leading player in Europe in the field of discrimination law. In July 2003, the Department of Trade and Industry published its consultation document Equality and Diversity: Age Matters, to seek views on how to implement legislation prohibiting age discrimination. The Age Employment Regulation will revolutionize working practices unlike any of the previous anti-discrimination laws. It will be based on the familiar concepts found in existing discrimination laws and will cover direct and indirect indiscrimination, harassment and victimization. The issue of age discrimination and the ageing workforce is global and some readers may find it useful to put the EU and UK position into a global context. Prohibition of age discrimination in employment in Europe stems from the 2000 European Union Employment Directive on Equal Treatment prompting the development of age discrimination legislation in member states. Ireland is one of the few EU countries to have already implemented age discrimination legislation.
