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26/06/2008
Government Sets Out Equality Plans
New Government plans announced today will allow further provision for women and ethnic minority job candidates.
Equality Minister Harriet Harman has set out plans to allow firms to adopt "positive discrimination".
The Equalities Bill will also demand that employers disclose salary structures to narrow the gender pay gap.
The plans, which will ban all age discrimination, will first be implemented across England then Wales and Scotland.
Ms Harman said that "a society which is equal and fair is one which is more at ease with itself".
The plans will also bring all previous discrimination law into a single piece of legislation.
The minister told BBC's Today programme that female part-time workers "earned 40% less per hour than their full-time counterparts".
"Women more equal than men? Chance would be a fine thing," she said.
The white paper will also outlaw discrimination in goods and services on the basis of age.
The bill will aim to stop pensioners being refused NHS treatment because of their age.
It is understood that elderly people have complained that they have been patronised by doctors and denied health and travel insurance.
The plans will also give women the right to breastfeed in public and outlaw "homophobic bullying" in the workplace.
Tory Theresa May has welcomed the proposals but has said that the bill "should seek to unite not divide" as it "confused the government's message" by allowing discrimination in certain cases.
Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Lynne Featherstone has also approved of the proposals and said that the government "must do more to end the growing discrepancy between the rules on pay for the public and private sector".
"Public sector equality rights are fast becoming an ivory tower that private sector employees can only dream off," she said.
The department will publish research today revealing the scale of discrimination in the provision of health.
Unison has called on Ms Harman to "fund equal pay in local authorities who are not facing up to their legal responsibilities".
(DS)
Equality Minister Harriet Harman has set out plans to allow firms to adopt "positive discrimination".
The Equalities Bill will also demand that employers disclose salary structures to narrow the gender pay gap.
The plans, which will ban all age discrimination, will first be implemented across England then Wales and Scotland.
Ms Harman said that "a society which is equal and fair is one which is more at ease with itself".
The plans will also bring all previous discrimination law into a single piece of legislation.
The minister told BBC's Today programme that female part-time workers "earned 40% less per hour than their full-time counterparts".
"Women more equal than men? Chance would be a fine thing," she said.
The white paper will also outlaw discrimination in goods and services on the basis of age.
The bill will aim to stop pensioners being refused NHS treatment because of their age.
It is understood that elderly people have complained that they have been patronised by doctors and denied health and travel insurance.
The plans will also give women the right to breastfeed in public and outlaw "homophobic bullying" in the workplace.
Tory Theresa May has welcomed the proposals but has said that the bill "should seek to unite not divide" as it "confused the government's message" by allowing discrimination in certain cases.
Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Lynne Featherstone has also approved of the proposals and said that the government "must do more to end the growing discrepancy between the rules on pay for the public and private sector".
"Public sector equality rights are fast becoming an ivory tower that private sector employees can only dream off," she said.
The department will publish research today revealing the scale of discrimination in the provision of health.
Unison has called on Ms Harman to "fund equal pay in local authorities who are not facing up to their legal responsibilities".
(DS)
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28 August 2006
Asda announces plans to scrap birth date queries
Supermarket chain Asda will no longer ask prospective employees to supply their date of birth on application forms, the firm has announced. The supermarket chain said that it would employ staff of all ages - from 16 to over 70 - which goes beyond new age discrimination legislation which will come into force on October 1.
Asda announces plans to scrap birth date queries
Supermarket chain Asda will no longer ask prospective employees to supply their date of birth on application forms, the firm has announced. The supermarket chain said that it would employ staff of all ages - from 16 to over 70 - which goes beyond new age discrimination legislation which will come into force on October 1.
11 January 2010
Govt Pledges To Tackle Ageism
Equality Secretary Harriet Harman has said discrimination against older people is a serious problem that must be "tackled at the highest levels". The increase in the number of well, older people demands a change in public policy, said Ms Harman.
Govt Pledges To Tackle Ageism
Equality Secretary Harriet Harman has said discrimination against older people is a serious problem that must be "tackled at the highest levels". The increase in the number of well, older people demands a change in public policy, said Ms Harman.
14 December 2004
Government plans age discrimination crackdown
The Government has unveiled new proposals to crackdown on age discrimination in the workplace.
Government plans age discrimination crackdown
The Government has unveiled new proposals to crackdown on age discrimination in the workplace.
11 November 2005
TUC warn on older workers’ redundancy pay
Older workers could face reduced redundancy payments, when new age discrimination regulations come into force next year, the Trades Union Congress has warned. Employees aged over 41 who lose their jobs currently receive higher statutory redundancy payments than younger workers with the same length of service.
TUC warn on older workers’ redundancy pay
Older workers could face reduced redundancy payments, when new age discrimination regulations come into force next year, the Trades Union Congress has warned. Employees aged over 41 who lose their jobs currently receive higher statutory redundancy payments than younger workers with the same length of service.
01 November 2004
Anti-age discrimination measures having no effect, says survey
Not only are anti-age discrimination measures failing to get the equality message through but the situation for the elderly will get worse, according to an Age Concern survey. The survey found that 75% of people think age discrimination will not get any better in the next five years, with 28% saying it will get worse.
Anti-age discrimination measures having no effect, says survey
Not only are anti-age discrimination measures failing to get the equality message through but the situation for the elderly will get worse, according to an Age Concern survey. The survey found that 75% of people think age discrimination will not get any better in the next five years, with 28% saying it will get worse.
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