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EQUALITY
AND DIVERSITY
New
Equality legislation has come into force
Unfair
discrimination in employment is wrong. It
is bad for the individuals who are denied jobs and access to
vocational training, who suffer victimisation or harassment,
because of prejudice.
It is bad for the businesses which are denying themselves
access to the widest pool of talent and not sharing in the
benefits - such as increased motivation, lower turnover of staff,
and access to wider markets - that a diverse workforce and
effective equality policies can bring.
The
introduction of new legislation - The Employment Equality (Sexual
Orientation) Regulations 2003 and the Employment Equality
(Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 - is a major step forward
in tackling unfair discrimination in the UK.
The Regulations implement strands of the European
Employment Directive (Council Directive 2000/78/EC).
Northern Ireland has separate
legislation implementing the Directive. Click
here for more information about the Northern Ireland
legislation.
Click here for more
information about the Employment Equality Regulations 2003.
This
section offers answers to some frequently asked questions about
the legislation and where to go for more information and advice.
Capacity
Building 2004/05 - supporting activity to raise awareness and
understanding of Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation, Religion
or Belief) Regulations
The Government recognises that intermediary organisations
(employers' bodies, unions, voluntary and community bodies) play
an important role in supporting the practical application of new
legislation. In 2003-04 we gave funds to a range of such
organisations so they could offer advice on sexual orientation and
religion or belief employment issues.
We are building on this work in 2004-05. We hope that the new
projects will help develop some longer-term capacity in the new
legislative areas, before the Commission on Equality and Human
Rights comes into operation.
A briefing
document (67Kb MS Word format) and
grant application form (36Kb MS Word format) are available..
Equality
and Diversity: The European Context
The UK Government played an active
role in negotiating two European Directives on on equality. Their
impact will be significant in tackling discrimination across the
EU.
The Employment Directive
outlaws
discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, religion or
belief, disability and age in employment and vocational training.
New legislation - The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation)
Regulations 2003 and the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief)
Regulations 2003 - came into force in December 2003.
Amendments to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will come
into force in October 2004 and new legislation outlawing
discrimination on grounds of age by the end of 2006.
The Race
Directive outlaws
discrimination on grounds of racial or ethnic origin in the areas
of employment, vocational training, goods and services, social
protection, education and housing. Changes to the Race Relations
Act 1976 to implement the Directive come into force in July
2003.
Click
here for more information about the EU's approach to
making changes to equality legislation in the workplace.
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