New European directive planned

The European Commission has published proposals for a new directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment. The directive would cover areas of discrimination currently not tackled by existing European law, which mainly covers discrimination between the sexes. The new directive is based on the principle of equal treatment in access to employment, including promotion, training, employment conditions and membership of certain organisations, for everyone irrespective of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. The directive would cover direct and indirect discrimination and specifically includes a right to take positive action to reduce or counter existing discrimination.