Europe: Companies required to have LGBT equality plans

Legislation came into force last month requiring all companies in Spain with more than 50 employees to have LGBT equality plans in place within the next six months.

The regulations took effect on 10 October, following negotiations between the main union confederations, CCOO and the UGT, and the employers, and they set out the terms on which a more general LGBT equality law applies in the area of employment.

They state that LGTB equality plans should be negotiated, with agreements possible at both industry and company level. Negotiations must start within three months, and the two sides then have three months to reach an agreement.

As a minimum, the agreements must include the following: a commitment to equality and non-discrimination, training to ensure fair recruitment, objective criteria for evaluation and promotion, encouragement of diversity in the workforce, penalties for discrimination against LGBT employees, and rules against violence and harassment.