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ARTICLE · 04 OCTOBER 2010

Equality Act 2010 Provisions Come Into Force & Minimum Wage Increases Today

MacRoberts
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The Equality Act 2010 is likely to be one of the most influential pieces of legislation for years. 90% of its provisions have come into force today. Its goal is to "rationalise" and "strengthen" existing equality legislation.

United KingdomEmployment and HR
Katy Wedderburn
Katy Wedderburn
Karen McGill
Karen McGill
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Originally published 1 October, 2010

The Equality Act 2010 is likely to be one of the most influential pieces of legislation for years. 90% of its provisions have come into force today. Its goal is to "rationalise" and "strengthen" existing equality legislation.   

The Act combines and consolidates previous legislation, designed to protect individuals against certain types of discrimination, where they have a 'protected characteristic.'  The characteristics are:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Gender Re-assignment
  • Race
  • Religion or Belief
  • Sex
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Marriage & Civil Partnership
  • Pregnancy and Maternity

There are no new characteristics, but the requirement that an individual undergoing Gender Re-assignment must be under medical supervision in order to attract protection from discrimination is removed. 

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