Employment law changes ‘will continue fight against inequality’

Posted 27/01/2010

The government has committed to continuing to implement employment law changes in order to foster better equality standards in UK workplaces.

Minister for women and equality Harriet Harman has stated that the forthcoming Equality Bill will aim to make the fight against discrimination on the basis of gender, race, age and disability more important than ever.

This comes in response to the publishing of a new report by the National Equality Panel which shows that an average pay gap of 22 per cent still exists between male and female workers in the UK.

Ms Harman welcomed the improvement this represents from figures recorded in 1997, but stated that further advances must still be made.

She said this was necessary for the promotion of “the right of every individual to reach their full potential”.

The Equality Bill has already won the support of workers’ unions such as GMB and Unison, which concurred that the legal change will help to combat discrimination against women and ethnic minorities.