Band 7+: In some countries, it is illegal for companies to reject applicants for their age. Is this positive or negative development?. Give a reason for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

The fact that age is prohibited from constituting employment decisions of companies by legal regulations in many countries has generated considerable discussion. While there are advantages to this approach, I believe these are outweighed by the drawbacks concerning business operation and risks of exploitation.

Eliminating age from hiring decisions is argued to have two primary benefits. The first is that it reduces discrimination against certain age groups, especially those who are capable but deemed either too old or too young. This helps to ensure that people are employed based on their skills, which is more fair. The given approach can also have practical benefits, as people can earn a living so long as they can complete their work with satisfying results. This is particularly meaningful to older workers who have no one to rely on, as being unable to find a job due to their age would put them in a difficult financial situation.

Despite the above advantages, I believe there are decidedly more drawbacks. The most significant issue here is that certain lines of work are more suitable for young people, just as others may favor older age groups. Examples of this include IT technicians at entry level, most of whom are preferably in their early 20s since they have more stamina to take on heavy workloads and more flexibility to acquire new skills. Older applicants of the same level may have not only less stamina but also resist changes, making employing them a less profitable decision. Furthermore, without proper age restrictions, it is also possible that companies would target young, inexperienced candidates, exploiting their lack of awareness and paying them low wages. Child-labouring in many countries serves as a pertinent example of this.

In conclusion, I believe banning companies from rejecting applications due to their age is likely to do more harm than good. Although there are advantages of reducing discrimination towards certain capable individuals, this policy can lead to more problems, such as undermining business operation and create loopholes which can be used to exploit workers.