Update on Equality Law: Are we catching up?

a conference
Wednesday 5 December 2007
9.30am-4.30pm
at the UCU Conference Centre,
Britannia Street,
London WC1
organised by
The Institute of Employment Rights

While we have traveled a long way in terms of equalities legislation in recent years, the complexity of discrimination legislation still makes it very difficult to tackle the deep-set
issues of inequality in the workplace.

In the past 10 years alone, we have upgraded maternity and paternity leave, introduced regulations on sexual orientation, age and religion and belief and focused on gender equality, disability and race equality duties. Yet women are still paid less than men,
disabled people are twice as likely to be unemployed and a ‘sticky floor’ exists for ethnic minorities in terms of advancement in the workplace.

In May 2007 the Government unveiled its Green Paper on the future framework for a single equalities law. The stated aim of the consultation paper is to make equality law clearer by condensing nine pieces of legislation into one new law and to consult on
whether there are significant gaps in protection that should be plugged. Honourable enough aims. So why has the Green Paper been highly criticised by both the Disability Rights Commission and the Mayor of London?

What does the Green Paper propose? How will the proposals impact on equality at work? How do we think the legislation can be improved? This conference aims to provide a critical look at the role of the new Equalities Commission, the equalities legislation and bestpractice solutions in the workplace. It will bring together some of the finest academics, trade unionists and legal practitioners, offering delegates an informed and sympathetic understanding of the latest developments in equality legislation.

programme

• 9:30 Registration

• 9:50 Welcome from Chair

• 10:00 Pulling it all together: The Single Equality Act

Prof Aileen McColgan, Kings College, London

• 10:30 Preventing sexual orientation discrimination

Prof Mark Bell, Leicester

• 11:00 Religious discrimination at work

Dr Lucy Vickers, Oxford Brookes

• 11:30 Tea and coffee

• 11:45 Diversity or Discrimination? The question of age
  Speaker TBC

• 12:15 Discussion

• 12:30 LUNCH

• 1:30 The Commission for Equalities and Human Rights

Vicky Philips, Thompsons Solicitors

• 2:00 Eradicating disability discrimination at work

Caroline Gooding, Disability Rights Commission

• 2:30 Pay Equity: Are we winning?

Prof Sandy Fredman, Oxford University

• 3:00 Tea and coffee

• 3:15 Recent findings on Implementing the Race Equality Duty

Karon Monaghan, Matrix Chambers

• 3.45 The Gender Equality Duty: What is it and where are we with its implementation?

Prof Lizzie Barmes, Queen Mary, University of London

• 4.15 Discussion

• 4:30 Close

Who should attend

The conference will be of great interest to trade unionists, employment lawyers, academics and students. It will be of particular interest to Equality Officers needing up to the minute information on developments in case law.

How to book

To reserve your place, complete the form below and send your cheque, made payable to IER, to Institute of Employment Rights, The People’s Centre, 50-54 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5SD. Fax 0151 702 6935.

CPD, NPP and EPP accreditation

This conference counts for 5 credit hours under the Law Society’s Continuing Development Scheme and the General Council of the Bar’s New Practitioners’ Programme and Established Practitioners’ Programme.

Additional Information

Details of nearby hotels are available from the office. Name changes are accepted up until the time of the event. Delegates who advise IER of their cancellation more than 15 working days in advance will receive a credit note with 10% deduction for administration.

How to get there

Nearest stations are: Kings Cross and St Pancras (tube and British Rail)

Cost

IER subscribers and members £75.00
Trade unions £90.00
Commercial £220.00
The cost of the conference does not include lunch

Register for this Seminar