Equal Opportunities Commission challenges UK government interpretation of EU sex equality laws

The government went to court on Wednesday to defend its translation of European sex equality laws.

Judicial review proceedings were lodged by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) over the implementation of the European Equal Treatment Directive.

The EOC claims that women in the UK are missing out on some of the rights that they are entitled to under the EU law.

In particular, it believes women are losing out on some rights to do with maternity, and also to protection from harassment by clients where their employer fails to act to protect them, implying consent amounting to participation in the harassment.

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Jenny Watson, chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission, said: “It is crucial that employers understand what is expected of them, and that women enjoy the full protection of the law. This is why we have filed this review.”