Equality minister pushes for positive discrimination

Date: 27th June 2008

The UK's minister for equality has outlined plans to permit positive discrimination in favour of women in the workplace.

Also structured to favour those from ethnic minorities, the new plans have been designed to enable a company to choose a female or minority candidate for a job over a male one, even if they are equally suited for the post.

If the bill is passed, employees will be given the right to discuss salaries with colleagues.

The terms of the equalities bill, explained by Harriet Harman, will be apply in England, Scotland and Wales.

In a report by the BBC, Theresa May, shadow commons leader, criticised the bill, stating that "this bill should seek to unite not divide - it has good intentions but its lack of detail and clarity is disappointing".

Lynne Featherstone, youth and equality representative for the Lib Dems, added: "If the government genuinely wants to tackle equality it must do more to end the growing discrepancy between the rules on pay for the public and private sector."

The new bill also includes the legal right for women to breastfeed children in public spaces.