Equality Act Becomes Law
8th October 2010
The Equality Act 2010 came into force on 1 October 2010. This important statute codifies British anti-discrimination law, e.g. the Equal Pay Act 1970, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act 1976, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003, and the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 (it replaces these previous laws).
Receiving comparison with the American Civil Rights Act 1964 and the EU Equal Treatment Directives (which it effectively brings into force in the UK), the Act requires equal treatment in employment and services, both public and private, irrespective of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, belief or age.
It is largely inapplicable in Northern Ireland.
The Act is made up of numerous parts as follows:— (1) Socio-economic inequalities, (2) Equality key concepts, protected characteristics, prohibited conduct, (3) Services and public functions, (4) Premises, (5) Work, Chapter 1 Employment, occupational pension schemes, equality of terms, (6) Education, schools, further & higher education, qualifications bodies, (7) Associations, (8) Prohibited conduct: ancillary, (9) Enforcement, (10) Contracts, (11) Advancement of equality, public sector equality duty, positive action, (12) Disabled persons, transport, taxis, public service vehicles, rail vehicles etc.