New equality rights agreed

A key directive extending protection against discrimination at work to new groups of workers was agreed in principle at last month's EU social affairs council of ministers. It outlaws discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Discrimination on the grounds of gender has long been illegal under EU law and a directive making discrimination on the grounds of race illegal was agreed in June this year. The new directive, which should be formally agreed in the next six months, will require the UK to introduce new legislation as at present discrimination in the UK on grounds of age or sexual orientation is not illegal.

A directive on information and consultation rights at national level, which if passed would also give UK workers new rights, was not agreed but comes up again this month.