Legal Framework
Equal Pay Act 1970 (amended 1984) - unlawful to pay one gender less than the other if the work being carried out by both employees is ‘like’ work or regarded as equivalent.
The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (amended 1986) - it is unlawful to discriminate against a person in relation to employment on grounds of gender or marital status.
The Race Relations Act 1976 and Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 - this Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person in relation to employment and service delivery on grounds of race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality or national origin.
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 this Act laid down the rehabilitation periods for when a sentence is regarded as spent. There are some council posts for which applicants must always declare a conviction, even though it is ‘spent’.
Disability Discrimination Act (1995) this makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the grounds of disability (as defined by the Act) in all areas of employment practice.
The Scotland Act (1998) provides a wide-ranging definition of equality applicable to Scotland.
Human Rights Act 1998 - incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law applicable to all public bodies.
EU Employment Directive, including Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 lays down a general framework for combating discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation.
Plus other appropriate EU legislation e.g. on working time and public procurement, as a framework for action to support equality objectives and general Local Government Legislation (eg Local Government in Scotland Act 2003) which places a duty on local authorities to promote equality in terms of achieving Best Value.
