Equality Bill update: New 'dual discrimination' law proposed

The government has proposed a new 'dual discrimination' clause in the Equality Bill to protect people who experience direct discrimination because of a combination of two protected characteristics (age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation).

Currently, people may only bring separate discrimination claims relating to one protected characteristic.

The new proposal would mean, for example, that a black female member of staff who is discriminated against because her manager has a particular stereotyped attitude towards black women - as opposed to black men or white women - could bring a single claim for combined race and sex discrimination.

Vera Baird, Solicitor General and Equality Bill lead minister, said:

'People's identities are multi-faceted and complex, and we are delighted to bring forward an amendment to the Equality Bill which would reflect this. This clause would provide protection for people who at present would have to guess on what basis they have been discriminated against.'

She continued:

'Business will benefit if all the issues in one case can be dealt with together, and there will be better access to justice for all. Protection against "dual discrimination" would be a progressive step forward and confirm our place as a world leader in the fight against discrimination and disadvantage.'

For the latest developments on the Equality Bill and its implications for the higher education sector, visit our Equality Bill project page.