Age of reason
Regulations banning age discrimination in employment and vocational training were launched by the DTI on March 9. The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 will ban age discrimination in recruitment, promotion and training; ban unjustified retirement ages of below 65; and remove the current age limit for unfair dismissal and redundancy rights.
Employers have six months to prepare before the regulations become statutory. Contact DTI 020 7215 5964 www.dti.gov.uk
Purchasing power
Public sector purchasers should buy only from contractors that promote gender equality and meet equal pay requirements, according to government-appointed body, the Women and Work Commission. It said a requirement to promote equal pay “should be flagged up in contract documents to ensure it is built into contractors plans”, and that government departments should work with The Equal Opportunities Commission or Commission for Equality and Human Rights to develop “practical, equalities-led procurement advice to promote good practice in diversity and equal pay”.
The recommendations, however, do not extend to backing calls for mandatory pay audits to force private sector employers to comply with equal pay laws, even though public sector employers would be expected to conduct equality reviews. Contact Women & Equality 020 7215 5000 www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk
We shall overcome?
A study carried out for the review by the Institute for Social & Economic research finds that women, ethnic minorities, disabled and older people continue to face serious obstacles to employment. According to the study, at present rates of progress the gender pay gap will not be closed until 2085 and the gap between employment of disabled and able-bodied people will never close. Contact DTI 020 7215 5964 www.dti.gov.uk
Diverse interests Wal-Mart has made public details of how many women and minorities it employs. Women account for just over three-fifths of its 1.3m strong US workforce, while minorities account for just under a third. Women comprise almost two-fifths of jobs falling under the heading officials and managers, which includes administrative and managerial jobs. Minorities account for around a fifth of these. The move comes as the retailer defends a class action lawsuit that accuses it of discriminating against women in pay, training and promotions. Contact Wal-Mart www.wal-mart.com
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