People shouldn't be forced to stop working just because they reach a certain age, Age Action has said.

The organisation, which is appearing before an Oireachtas committee, is calling for the mandatory retirement age of 66 to be scrapped.

Age Action Senior Public Affairs & Policy Specialist Nat O’Connor told Newstalk Breakfast no one should be forced out of work.

"What we're looking for here is choice and control for the older worker," he said.

"Obviously people choose to retire at whatever age they choose... that's absolutely fine.

"But at the moment in Ireland you could have a private sector contract and you could have any age as a mandatory retire because there's no regulation".

'Human rights issue'

Mr O’Connor said there is evidence that forced retirement can affect people's quality of life, income and their health.

"It's a major issue that affects thousands of people in Ireland every year," he said.

"We're simply saying, rather than tinkering with the system, we should take the step and abolish it.

"It's a human rights issue; why should somebody be told you reach a certain arbitrary age and we're going to let you go?"

'Functional and productive'

Mr O’Connor said several other countries have removed a legal retirement age.

"Mandatory retirement has been illegal in Canada, Australia and New Zealand for decades and their labour markets are functional and productive," he said.

"It's been illegal in the United States since 1967.

"What we're saying is that an older worker should have the choice of when they want to move out of work".

An older person in an online conversation on a laptop in July 2022. Image: Tero Vesalainen / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr O’Connor said an employee has to be able to do the job in terms of productivity but dismissed "stereotypes" suggesting people in their 60s are no longer able to work.

Mr O'Connor added that some people may also want to work part-time.

People have the option to work until they are 70 under pension changes announced last year.

If someone chooses to work until then, and not retire at 66, they will receive an adjusted higher State pension rate when they do retire.

Main image: A factory worker moving and stacking cardboard, 12-7-14. Image: Image Source Limited / Alamy