Government strives for equality

Two initiatives are on the political agenda to push equal rights.

On the one hand we have a initiative from the Department of Trade and Industry. The legislation should be tidied up, because different groups have different rights. Not only race or gender discrimination should be looked at, but also age discrimination.

On the other hand we have one of Trevor Philips, chairman of the CRE (Commission of the Commission for Racial Equality), who must lead a government inquiry into inequality. This is an opportunity to broaden the equal right issue. Not only sex, age and race discrimination should be looked at, but also other disadvantaged groups such as disabled people, ethnic minorities and parents of young and disabled children who have the right to request flexible working. Also sick and disabled people should be rehabilitated.

Equal right campaigners argue that the government should compel private sector employers to carry out equal pay audits.

Lisa Luyckx

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b875f688-86d2-11d9-8075-00000e2511c8.html