Delegates at next week's annual conference of the Employers Forum on Age will hear presentations from senior government figures on managing an ageing workforce. The forum is geared towards to building business awareness of impending changes in retirement legislation, and the possible abolition of the state retirement ages of 65 for men and 60 for women. EFA campaign director Sam Mercer said most businesses are still unaware of the impact new measures will have. She said: "The consultation document should be drafted by 2003 ­ companies will then have only three years to comply with its guidelines, so now is the time for employers to understand impact of flexible retirement on their business and raise any issues." Ian McCartney, minister for pensions, Malcolm Wicks, a junior minister with responsibility for work, and Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the Financial Services Authority, will address leading grocery industry employers at the forum's conference which has been called Age ­ no laughing matter. Delegates from EFA's membership at Cadbury Schweppes, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury, Unigate, and the Confederation of British Industry will attend. Mercer said: "If retirement laws are abolished, one example of the repercussions would be that employers would have to effectively "sack" an employee at the end of their working life. "Employers do not seem to be aware of the facts yet." The conference will include panel sessions and workshops on flexible retirement options led by EFA member companies. Discussion of best practice arising from proposed changes to age-related legislation will take in issues such as budgeting, recruitment policies and skills shortage resulting from current system retirement practices in the UK. The EFA's keynote speaker will Patricia Knudson, a US employment lawyer. The conference takes place in London on Tuesday, June 26. {{PEOPLE MOVES }}