The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 is a plank of
United Kingdom labour law
United Kingdom labour law regulates the relations between workers, employers and trade unions. People at work in the UK can rely upon a minimum charter of employment rights, which are found in Acts of Parliament, Regulations, common law and equit ...
designed to combat discrimination in relation to people's religion or belief, or absence of religion or belief. They were introduced in order to comply with the
European Union Directive 2000/78/EC
The Equality Framework Directive''2000/78/ECis an EU Directive, and a major part of EU labour law which aims to combat discrimination on grounds of disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief and age in the workplace. It accompanies the ...
and complement similar measures on sexuality, age, disability, race and gender discrimination. The EU Directive in turn is similar to legislation passed in the
United States.
The Regulations have been revoked by, and the substantive provisions included in, the
Equality Act 2010.
Equality Act, 2010
sched. 27 part 2
Provisions
The main provisions of the regulations are to make direct and indirect discrimination against an employee or potential employee on the grounds of religion unlawful. They also make it unlawful to discriminate by way of victimization, or to harass an employee on grounds of religious belief. The regulations also extend to cover providers and of vocational training in relation to those undergoing training for any employment, and to those acting as employment agencies and giving careers advice.
There are exceptions for genuine occupational requirements, for national security, and for positive discrimination for overcoming disadvantages pertaining to adherents of a religious belief or to encourage religious adherents to take advantage of opportunities for work.
A special clause protects Sikhs from requirements pertaining to the wearing of safety helmets.
Case law
*''McClintock v. Department of Constitutional Affairs
''McClintock v Department of Constitutional Affairs'' 008IRLR 29, ''Times'' 5 December 2007, is a UK employment discrimination law case concerning freedom of religion under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, unfair dismissal (s ...
''
*''Redfearn v. Serco
Redfearn is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Alan Redfearn, English rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s
* Alec K. Redfearn, musician and composer based out of Providence, Rhode Island
* Brian Redfearn, fo ...
''
*''Jivraj v Hashwani'' 010 010 may refer to:
* 10 (number)
* 8 (number) in octal numeral notation
* Motorola 68010, a microprocessor released by Motorola in 1982
* 010, the telephone area code of Beijing
* 010, the Rotterdam
Rotterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the R ...
EWCA Civ 712
*'' McFarlane v Relate Avon Ltd'' 010 010 may refer to:
* 10 (number)
* 8 (number) in octal numeral notation
* Motorola 68010, a microprocessor released by Motorola in 1982
* 010, the telephone area code of Beijing
* 010, the Rotterdam
Rotterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the R ...
EWCA Civ 880
See also
* UK employment discrimination law
* UK labour law
*Human Rights Act 1998
The Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42) is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom which received royal assent on 9 November 1998, and came into force on 2 October 2000. Its aim was to incorporate into UK law the rights contained in the European Con ...
Notes
External links
Statutory Instrument 2003 No. 1660, The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003
full text at the official Office of Public Sector Information
The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) is the body responsible for the operation of His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) and of other public information services of the United Kingdom. The OPSI is part of the National Archives of the Un ...
website.
*
United Kingdom labour law
Anti-discrimination law in the United Kingdom
Human rights in the United Kingdom
Statutory Instruments of the United Kingdom
2003 in British law
2003 in religion
{{UK-law-stub