Jane Hutt questions the UK Government’s Commitment to Equality

Equalities Minister Jane Hutt has questioned the UK Government’s Commitment to equality following its announcement to repeal review or delay a number of elements of the Equality Act 2010 as part of their Red Tape Challenge Initiative.

 

At the same time the UK Government has also provided a response to the consultation on the reform of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The UK Government has announced that it will review all of the Public Sector Equality Duty. The review will look at how this legislation is working in practice.

Jane Hutt said:

“The Equality Act represents the culmination of years of debate about how to improve British equality law and is at the centre of all the work we are trying to do to create a fair equal society for everyone in Wales.”

In April 2011 the Welsh Government was the first Government in Britain to bring in specific equality duties to ensure that public authorities deliver their general equality duty. These duties drive practical action by requiring public bodies to tackle the problems of inequality in their areas.

The UK Government has also announced a repeal of the Socio Economic Duty and decided to consult on a repeal of Third party harassment and Employment Tribunals.

Jane Hutt added:

“I feel the timing of the review of the Public Sector Equalities Duty is wholly premature. Wales is the first part of the UK to apply the duty in a really practical way and only last month all public bodies in Wales published statutory plans to address equality priorities. If we genuinely want to make an objective assessment of the effectiveness of the duties then we have to give them time to be implemented.

“The proposal to repeal Employment Tribunals’ power to make wider recommendations to employers who have discriminated against one of their employees is a significant backward step. It could mean that Employment Tribunals would no longer be able to recommend changes to employers’ policies that benefit all employees and make for better organisations.

“It is also absolutely reasonable that an employer should take responsibility if a member of their staff is being repeatedly harassed on equality grounds and be liable if they fail to take steps to prevent this. Both proposals clearly bring into question the UK Governments commitment for equality of opportunity for all.”

On the reform of the EHRC, Jane Hutt said:

“The Welsh Government has a good relationship with the Wales EHRC and this relationship strengthens the Equality Act 2010 within Wales. We are concerned about changes to the EHRC remit and how this might impact Wales.

“I also have concerns about a further review in 2013. I am however pleased that the UK Government recognises the importance to the EHRC of retaining a strong and distinct presence in Wales and working closely with the Welsh Government.”