Samma rätt oavsett ålder? : En studie om åldersdiskrimineringsområdet i svensk rätt

Sammanfattning: The prevention of age discrimination in Sweden did not have any solvent grounds until directive 2000/78/EG was implemented into Swedish law. Today age discrimination has been banned for just over two years. This ground of discrimination has, compared to other existing grounds of discrimination in Swedish law, a lot more opportunities to make exceptions from. Given the fact that the exemption rules are vague, it is difficult to determine whether the protection against age discrimination is in fact a protection at all. The purpose of this essay is to describe what the law regarding age discrimination means. Is the protection against age discrimination appropriate or are the prohibitions against age discrimination deficient? Both Swedish and EU-law applies in this essay, since the Swedish Discrimination Act has been influenced by EU-law. From the prohibition of age discrimination there are a few exemptions which are permissible under Swedish and EU-law. There are three possibilities to make exemptions to the age discrimination ban in Swedish law, one of which can be made in individual contracts and collective agreements as regards the right to pension- survivor - or invalidity benefits. The other two exemptions are more general and vague and therefore do not provide much guidance. Consequently, the main question is whether or not the Swedish Discrimination Act provides a protection with no actual effect, since the preparatory works mention situations where exceptions to the prohibition of age discrimination are considered to be permitted. In 2001 a mandatory rule came into force in the Employment Protection Act (LAS) which gave employees the right, to remain in their post until the month in which he or she reaches the age of 67. The issue however occurs after the employer has reached this age and whether or not this rule constitutes a direct discrimination by law.