Age-based discrimination in labour law: protecting older workers in the context of extending working life

Abstract

Population aging and the extension of working life require a profound reevaluation of the role of older workers in the labour market. Rather than benefiting from recognition and professional stability, they increasingly face agebased discrimination - in the form of hiring refusals, restricted access to professional training, wage discrimination, or disguised dismissals. This article offers a critical analysis of the European and national legal frameworks concerning equal treatment in employment, with a focus on existing legal mechanisms for preventing and sanctioning age-based discrimination. It identifies legislative gaps and inconsistencies between anti-discrimination regulations and labour market policies. In parallel, the paper explores good practices from other European countries that promote “age-friendly workplaces” and intergenerational integration.