Event Details

“Though we have ensured new rights and opportunities for disabled people, for women, black and Asian people and older people – there is still unfairness and discrimination to tackle. And this Bill will take the action necessary to tackle it.” “Today we publish our tough new Equality Bill, promised in our manifesto, building on our actions over the last 10 years. It will make Britain a more equal place, and help us build a stronger economy and fairer society for the future.”
— Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP, Minister for Women & Equality, April 2009

“The economies of the future that are going to be flourishing are not the ones that are within the old structures and the old boy network; they are the ones which understand the talents and abilities of everybody, that look to what everybody can contribute to the workforce and are not stuck in the past but look to the future and recognise women's contribution and the contribution that everyone can make in the workforce.”
— Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP, Minister for Women & Equality, September 2009

Overview

Nearly forty years after the Equal Pay Act 1970, which heralded a sea-change in employment law in favour of equal opportunities for all, the Government has unveiled the latest package of measures intended to fulfil its pledge to champion equality, protect human rights and tackle discrimination at all levels and on all grounds in the workplace and beyond. In addition to streamlining four decades of complex equality legislation into a single framework, the proposals outlined in the Equality Bill will seek to introduce new measures to “strengthen protection, advance equality and declutter the law”.

Despite a great deal of progress having been made over the years, the Government Equalities Office has highlighted the scale of the task ahead to make equal opportunities a reality in every workplace:

• Women are paid on average 23% less per hour than men (2008 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings)
• Disabled people are twice as likely to be out of work
• People from ethnic minority backgrounds are nearly a fifth less likely to find work
• Less than 12% of board directors in the UK’s top 100 companies are women

This special Public Policy Exchange symposium, hosted by the Centre for Parliamentary Studies, offers a timely opportunity for stakeholders and local practitioners to understand and assess the key facets of the proposed legislation and consider its impact on the equality and diversity landscape, with a particular focus on gender rights and workplace discrimination. Delegates will also have the opportunity to engage and network with their peers and discuss the key challenges that lie ahead in moving towards a pro-fairness framework that places greater emphasis on collaboration, empowerment, openness and stronger public duty.

Programme

Who Should Attend?

• Equal Opportunities Officers
• Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Practitioners
• HR & Organisational Development Professionals
• Employee Relations Professionals
• Arbitration Services
• Employment Tribunals
• Local Authority Officers & Councillors
• Police & Fire Service
• Private Sectors Employers
• Public Sector Employers
• Small/Medium Sized Businesses
• Central Government Departments & Bodies
• Regulatory Bodies
• Employment Law Specialists
• Widening Participation Officers
• SEN Practitioners
• Race Equality Councils
• Race Equality Practitioners
• Disability Practitioners
• Access Officers
• Campaigning Organisations
• Health Service Professionals
• Third Sector Practitioners
• Trade Union Representatives
• Academics