The equality watchdog is set to launch public consultations on three guidance documents to accompany the Equality Bill, aimed at helping employers and education providers understand how to apply the law.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is in the process of producing non-statutory guidance to cover the Equality Bill once it becomes law, and will open the consultations to gauge opinions on the content of this guidance.
Three separate consultations will be launched simultaneously on 25 January – the first on employment, the second on services, public functions and associations, and the third on education.
The EHRC said: “We are acutely aware that the guidance should reflect the needs, expectations and language of the people who are going to use it.
“Clear and authoritative guidance will be vital to enable new equality law to fulfil its promise; this is your chance to help us get it right.”
The consultations will be made available on the EHRC website and will close on 16 April 2010.
Meanwhile, the EHRC is currently consulting on the draft codes of practice drawn up for the Equality Bill, which will explain the new legislation so it can be applied consistently by lower courts and tribunals.
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The codes of practice are also subject to three separate consultations, including employment, equal pay and services, public functions and associations.
The consultations on the codes of practice will close on Friday 2 April 2010.
