Age Discrimination Legislation

All that withers was once blossoming. Across the developed world, populations are ageing disproportionately, and youth is being slowly eclipsed by the twilight of age. Fifty years ago, this age demographic was very different from today, and fifty years into the future, this will once more ring true. Demographic change is evident in both Australia and Japan. By 2060, those aged 65 and above will account for 40% of the population in Japan, while in Australia, this percentage is expected to be at least 20% of the total population. The key challenge posed by an ageing population is the need to maintain productivity with a sustainable labour force, thereby translating to a better GDP to debt ratio. However, factors that bear upon the question

In Japan, this occurs in the context of a culture which encourages respect of age and its wisdom. The sad folktale of abandoned old people on a mountain is representative of a sentiment that runs deep in traditional Japanese culture, which is embodied in tight-knit familial structures. These notions, however, are beginning to unravel in the face of modern economic

In 2012, women had a labour force participation rate of 70.4% in Australia and 63.4% in Japan. Many believe that there is much economic gain to be had in optimising “the labour productivity potential of increased female employment”. A defining attribute of female participation in the workforce, is its necessity in each country. Australia, although having achieved a sizeable exponential growth in this demographic (from 34% in 1961, to 59% participation in the labour force in 2011), is no longer driven out of necessity. A shortage in the labour force may be the instigator of change in Japanese employment systems. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe encourages “women who are currently employed to work more”. Moreover, there is concern that the ‘Spousal Tax Break, ' which allows a reduction in taxes for a household, as long as the spouse’s income falls below a certain amount, needs to be removed to aide the transition of more women into the workforce. Mr Abe has also pledged to improve access to childcare services, a critical factor in mothers’ ability to enter the workforce. These steps, though arguably modest, augur well for the future of working women in Japan, who will in turn help to grow the productivity of Japan to support an ageing