Dual discrimination rules scrapped in Budget

Scrapping dual discrimination rules was among a raft of measures to cut red tape for business announced in the 2011 Budget by Chancellor George Osborne.

The rules were introduced by the Equality Act 2010 but remained on the statute book waiting to start on April 6.

Dual discrimination regulations would have let people who felt they had a discrimination case under two ‘protected characteristics’ to launch a combined claim. The characteristics include race, religion, belief, gender and sexual orientation.

Groups and charities working with minority individuals slammed the move.

Richard Hawkes, chief executive of disability charity Scope said: “This Budget won’t help the government to deliver on its commitment to support disabled people. It is undermining the Equality Act by delaying the dual discrimination clauses. This shows questionable support of disabled people in employment and in everyday life.

Businesses get a free pass from new rules

“The Equality Act is hugely important to disabled people and has already been through a rigorous process to become legislation. Why are we hitting the pause button yet again when it comes to giving disabled people the protection and confidence they need to contribute to society?”

Consultation has also opened on the best way to remove the “unworkable” Equality Act 2010 requirement calling on employers to prevent harassment of their staff by third parties.

The Chancellor claims deregulation will save businesses around £350 million as firms with 10 or less employees were given a three-year moratorium on complying with new rules.

Alongside the Budget rule changes, the government has also indicated that a review of European Union regulations and directives considered ‘burdensome’ is under way.

This includes looking at EU proposals to give 20 weeks maternity leave and two week’s paternity leave on full pay that is likely to cost UK businesses around £2 billion a year.