The Government is committed to respect for all, fairness for all and opportunity for all. Discrimination and prejudice is never acceptable. Fairness and equality will be central to our work.
The main purpose of the Bill is to:
- Set out groundbreaking new laws which will help narrow the gap between rich and poor; require business to report on gender pay; outlaw age discrimination; and will significantly strengthen Britain’s anti-discrimination legislation.
The main benefits of the Bill would be:
- Women - the Equality Bill would shine a spotlight on gender pay discrimination, workplace by workplace, so problems can be identified and action taken, as well as using procurement and reporting to improve equality for women.
- Older People - with the number of people over 85 set to double in the next 20 years, it is essential that older people are not discriminated because of their age. The Equality Bill would ban age discrimination and place a duty on public bodies to ensure older people play a full role in society and that they are treated fairly.
- Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Groups - the Equality Bill would allow employers to choose to take positive action to appoint a person from an under-represented group, provided candidates are equally suitable, and so balance things out if they want to, as well as using procurement and reporting to improve equality.
- Disabled People - the Equality Bill would, amongst other things, make life fairer for disabled people by protecting people who for example care for a disabled child or relative.
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual People - the Equality Bill would put a duty on public bodies to consider the needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people when designing and delivering public services.
- Religion and Belief - the Equality Bill would put a duty on public bodies to consider the needs of people who use their services or works for them, regardless of their religion or belief.
- Business -the Equality Bill would streamline the law; distilling nine pieces of legislation and around 100 other measures into by a single Act written in plain English to make it easier for individuals and employers to understand their legal rights and obligations.
- Economy - to sustain our progress towards a strong economic recovery it is imperative that businesses draw on the widest possible talent pool. And not blinkered by prejudice.
The main elements of the Bill are:
- A new public sector duty to narrow the gap between rich and poor.
- Banning age discrimination outside the workplace; when buying or receiving goods and services like healthcare.
- Introducing gender pay reports. Public authorities with more than 150 employees will be required to report on gender pay. Businesses with more than 250 employees will be asked to report on gender pay, however if sufficient progress hasn’t been made by 2013, legal powers will be used to require it.
- Putting a new Equality Duty on public bodies to consider the needs of diverse groups in the community, when they design and deliver public services. It will cover race, disability, gender, and extended to cover age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.
- Using £200 billion worth of public procurement to drive equality in the private sector.
- Extending the scope to use positive action.
- Strengthening the powers of employment tribunals.
- Protecting carers from discrimination.
- Protecting pregnant women and new mothers.
- Banning discrimination in private clubs.
- Strengthening protection from discrimination for disabled people.
