Give the government a piece of your mind

Following the most significant review of equality institutions in the UK in 25 years, the government has announced that the three major commissions on equality are to be integrated into one body: the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.

The new commission, which is not expected to be operational until 2006, will combine the functions of the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Disability Rights Commission.

It will oversee and keep under review all discrimination legislation, as well as promoting and protecting human rights issues. Part of its job will be to encourage awareness and good practice on equality and diversity and understanding of human rights.

It will also tackle discrimination on grounds of age, sexual orientation, religion or belief and age. No previous institutional support has existed for these areas.

A white paper was issued on 12 May seeking views on this commission's proposed role, duties and powers.

In the white paper, the government acknowledges the long road ahead in working towards equality, citing these facts:

• women still earn significantly less than their male counterparts and tend to do less skilled work and/or part-time jobsn 70% of ethnic communities live in the UK's 88 most deprived areas; they experience much higher unemployment and lower pay than the rest of the population
  
• disabled people are seven times more likely to be out of work than non-disabled people
  
• unequal treatment of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals is still prevalent
  
• Muslim, Sikh and Hindu organisations report frequent unfair treatment of members in areas including employment and housing.

Legislation on discrimination and rights has mushroomed over the past 12 months, while anti-ageism laws will be coming in at the end of 2006.

Registered social landlords have had the added burden of responding to trade union Unison's intention to target them on equal pay.

So now is the time for RSLs to revisit how they deal with discrimination in the workplace in all areas – not least because views on the new commission can be submitted for the white paper until 6 August.