Equality Bill must not water down good work on disability, says Employers' Forum on Disability

3rd December 2008

Employers' Forum on Disability (EFD) today (3 December) urged the government to ensure the Equality Bill does not water down the positive impact of the Disability Equality Duty.  

The Equalities Bill, which aims to make Britain a fairer place for people with disabilities, is due to be announced in today's Queen's Speech. The Equalities Bill brings together nine pieces of legislation and around 100 other laws, covering disability and other forms of diversity, into a single piece of legislation.

EFD's Chief Executive Susan Scott-Parker said: "We very much support the aims of the Bill, but believe they can only be achieved if they are credible in eyes of employers and disabled people.

"In particular, we would not want the Disability Equality Duty, which has been a strong driver for action in the public sector, to be watered down in a new Equality Duty.

"The Bill talks about positive action, or positive discrimination, during the recruitment process. We believe a disability confident business needs to look at the accessibility of all its policies, not just when disabled people start work.

"Disability confidence means not just employing a higher proportion of disabled people, but making sure they are represented at all levels and in real, sustainable jobs in the organisation."

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Notes to editors

Media enquiries, please contact:

Brenda Otema, Communications & Marketing Officer
Employers' Forum on Disability
Email: brenda.otema@efd.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7403 3020

About Employers' Forum on Disability

Employers' Forum on Disability is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects employers and service providers. With over 300 members, EFD represents organisations that employ around 20 per cent of the UK workforce.Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers.

www.efd.org.uk