The British government should create new jobs and get the unemployed back into work to help pay for an ageing population rather than raise the retirement age, a trade union report urged on Friday.
The Trades Union Congress said that by concentrating on the UK's least prosperous regions the government could create enough jobs nation-wide to meet an 80 percent employment target and that would be enough to support a growing number of retirees.
"There is an alternative to a 'work-till-you-drop' rise in the pension age, and that is to help those below the pension age get a job and make a full economic contribution so that there are more people in work under 65 paying taxes and creating wealth," said TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber.
The TUC, which represents 70 unions, said the target was achievable if labour trends of the past five years continued. Britain's state and private sector retirement system has been hit by the combined effects of an ageing population, lower birth-rates, the 2000-2002 fall in stocks and low bond yields.
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