Fairness and Freedom

The final report of the Equalities Review, Fairness and Freedom, is released today.

Today, we report that greater equality would benefit the whole of society.  But we also warn that inequality still scars our entire society and holds back too many individuals from realising their potential.

The report warns that despite the significant progress achieved over the past 60 years, some kinds of inequality in the workplace are set to remain at intolerable levels, and calls for a new approach to tackling discrimination and disadvantage. 

At the current rate it could take until 2085 to close the pay gap between men and women.

Trevor Phillips, Chair of the Equalities Review Panel says: "People face inequality in many forms - not only on the grounds of race, gender or disability but also sexual orientation, age, gender identity, and religion or belief."

According to the report’s Equality Scorecard, the new definition of equality needs to take account of important areas such as family and social life, education, safety, quality of life, and freedom of belief and religion.

The report recommends ten steps to achieving greater equality including a new framework to measure progress towards equality, including an ‘Equalities Scorecard’ which employers, public service providers and others can use to get a true picture of equality gaps.  The report also calls for new flexibility for employers to use positive action (though the report does not argue for positive discrimination).

Currently, those that suffer the greatest inequality in the workplace are disabled people, mothers and women from Bangladesh or Pakistan.