The implications of outlawing age-based workplace discrimination are still under examination by Government.

However, Finance Minister Bob Richards said yesterday he wasn’t convinced outlawing age discrimination at work would help the Island’s economy.

“That’s a point that’s highly debatable,” he said. “Somebody is going to have to convince me. As somebody who is 66, we do have young people coming up and there are not enough jobs as we speak.

“We wish there were but there are not enough jobs to satisfy the aspirations of all of the young people coming up and all of the old people who don’t want to retire.

“I’m lucky. I’m in a job that doesn’t require me to retire, as a politician. I guess the people of Bermuda will retire me forcibly at some point in time.”

The One Bermuda Alliance MP said the idea of 65 as the right age to retire began in Germany in the 1920s or 30s and was widely accepted around the world, except in countries with a huge younger population, such as China.

“People are pensioned off at 50 in China,” Mr Richards added. “It’s OK to say ‘yes, if I want to work I should be allowed to work’. Each individual looks at the world through the prism of his or her own existence.

“The challenge of being in government is that you have to look at the world through a greater prism other than your own problems. You have to look at things from the public good.”

Meanwhile, Community Minister Wayne Scott said there were “issues we have to address” before the Human Rights Act could be overhauled for seniors.

“As I have stated in the House and publicly, the amendment remains on the agenda of the Government,” he said. “Work is at present being done to research and analyse the implications of amending the Act on pension and social insurance. The Department of Human Affairs is currently working with the Pensions Commissioner and the Director of the Department of Social Insurance in this regard.”