Library : Legislation

Equality Act 2010 The Equality Act came into force from October 2010 providing a modern, single legal framework with clear, streamlined law to more effectively tackle disadvantage and discrimination.

Framework for a Fairer Future - The Equality Bill - Government Equalities Office. This document sets out the new measures in the Government’s Equality Bill which aims to streamline and strengthen existing discrimination legislation. The Equality Bill includes measures to:

• End age discrimination;
• Increase transparency and ban ‘gagging clauses’;
• Encourage Positive Action for women and other under-represented groups;
• and Introduce a new Equality Duty on the public sector.
  

The Human Rights Act 1998 The Human Rights Act 1998 came into force in 2000 and gives legal effect in the UK to the fundamental rights and freedoms contained in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Article 14 of the Act specifically prohibits discrimination of any kind. This study guide produced by the Department for Constitutional Affairs in 2006 gives a brief overview of the Act.

Work & Families Act 2006 The Work & Families Act came into force in April 2007. It extended statutory maternity pay, maternity allowances and statutory adoption pay from 6 to 9 months. It also removed the length of service requirement for Additional Maternity Leave (AML) so that any employee entitled to Ordinary Maternity Leave is automatically entitled to AML and is able to take up to one year off work. In addition the Act introduced paternity leave for fathers and extended the right to request flexible working to carers. The Act also extended the period of notice for return from maternity leave to 2 months and introduced 'keeping in touch' days whereby women on maternity leave can return to work for a few days during their leave.