Equal Rights And Discrimination
You can also get information and advice from websites such as : www.do-it.org.uk www.volunteering.org.uk and www.justdosomething.net It is against the law for employers to discriminate against someone at work. This means that a person should not be refused work, training or promotion or treated less favourable because of their:
- Sex
- Nationality, race, colour or ethnic group
- Disability
- Religion
- Sexual orientation
- Age
In Northern Ireland, the law also bans discrimination on grounds of religious belief or political opinion.
The law also says that men and women who do the same job, or work or equal value, should receive equal pay. Almost all the laws protecting people at work apply equally to people doing part-time or full-time jobs.
There are, however, a small number of jobs where discrimination laws do not apply. For example, discrimination is not against the law when the job involves working for someone in their own home.
You can get more information about the law and racial discrimination from the Commission for Racial Equality. The Equal Opportunities Commission can help with sex discrimination issues and the Disability Rights Commission deals with disability issues. Each of these organizations offers advice and information and can, in some cases, support individuals. From October 2007 their functions will be brought together in a new Commission for Equality and Human Rights. You can get more information about the laws protecting people at work from the Citizens Advice Bureau website: www.adviceguide.org.uk
In Northern Ireland, the Equality Commission provides information and advice in respect of all forms of unlawful discrimination.
The Commission for Racial Equality, St Dunstan's House, 201-211 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1GZ, telephone : 020 7939 000, fax 020 7939 0001, www.cre.gov.uk
The Equal Opportunities Commission, Arndale House, Arndale Centre, Manchester M4 3EQ, telephone: 0845 601 5901, fax: 0161 838 8312, www.eoc.org.uk
The Disability Rights Commission, DRC Helpline, FREEPOST MID02164, Stratford upon Avon CV37 9BR, telephone: 08457 622 633, fax: 08457 778 878, www.drc.org.uk
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Equality House, 7-9 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast BT2 7DP, telephone: 028 90 500600, www.equalityni.org