Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer, has announced plans for a draft Race Equality Act, aiming to extend equal pay rights to Black, Asian, and minority ethnic workers. This proposed legislation, following consultations with business groups and unions, would also cover disabled people. The new law would treat equal pay claims based on ethnicity and disability on par with existing protections for women.
The proposed Act includes provisions against ‘dual discrimination’, allowing individuals facing prejudice due to a combination of protected characteristics to file a single discrimination claim. This move is expected to benefit various groups, including women experiencing discrimination during menopause, while also alleviating backlogs in the tribunals system.
Labour’s commitment to a Windrush commissioner aims to monitor and expedite the compensation scheme for those affected by the Windrush scandal, with a promise to relocate it out of the Home Office if necessary. The commissioner would serve as a voice for the Windrush generation and their families in seeking justice.
The Race Equality Act would impose a duty on public services, including the NHS, police, schools, and councils, to collect and report data on staffing, pay, and outcomes by ethnicity. This approach aligns with Labour’s broader initiatives, such as mandating ethnicity pay gap reporting, anti-racism training for police officers, and a curriculum review to ensure diversity in schools.
In light of the increasing inequality faced by Black, Asian and minority ethnic families, exacerbated by the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, these proposed measures aim to address systemic issues and promote equality across various sectors. The party’s vision for a more inclusive and just society includes expanded mental health support, closing maternal health gaps for black and Asian women, and updating clinical training to better serve diverse patient populations.
The Race Equality Foundation believes that the spotlight on closing gaps and addressing different types of discrimination is a step in the right direction, although legislation alone cannot eliminate inequality. More work is still needed across society to fully understand and remedy systemic racism and race discrimination.
