The government has published the Equality Bill, which will replace all existing discrimination legislation, including all the employment discrimination statutes and those which cover the provision of goods and services. The Bill still has to go through the Parliamentary process, but the plan is to implement the legislation in 2010. Protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity, race religion or belief, sex sexual orientation. Key changes made by the Bill are summarised in this article.
Baker & McKenzie, Solicitors