Over the last four decades discrimination legislation has played an important role in helping to make Britain a more equal society. However, the legislation was complex and, although progress has been made, inequality and discrimination persist and progress in some areas has been slow.
The Equality Act 2010* aims to provide a new cross-cutting legislative framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all. The new Act updates, simplifies and strengthens previous legislation; and will deliver a framework of discrimination law to protect individuals from unfair treatment and promote a fair and more equal society.
Schedule
The Government Equalities Office envisages that provisions in the Act will come into force as follows:
- October 2010: Main provisions.
- April 2011: The integrated public sector equality duty, the socio-economic duty and dual discrimination protection.
- 2012: The ban on age discrimination in provision of goods, facilities, services and public functions.
- 2013: Private and voluntary sector gender pay transparency regulations (if required) and political parties publishing diversity data.
Downloads
The Equality Act 2010 (external website)
The Equality Act – Explanatory Notes
The Equality Act – Impact Assessment