Equal Opportunities

An equal opportunities policy extends to all areas of work and training and all employers must have a positive policy towards people with disabilities.

The following Acts of Parliament have been passed to make sure equal opportunities are recognised:

• The Race Relations Act
  This act makes discrimination on grounds of race, colour, nationality or ethnic origins unlawful in employment and training and related matters in education.

• The Sex Discrimination Act
  The Sex Discrimination Act makes it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of sex, except under certain precisely defined conditions.

• Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts
  These Acts recognise the rights of disabled people in terms of employment. Most companies have a quota system. This means that a percentage of their workforce should be registered disabled persons.

• Age Discrimination
  When a job is advertised, it can state a lower age limit for applicants but it cannot state an upper age limit.

Trade Unions

Many people join a Union when they start work. There are different unions for groups of workers. Sometimes, there is more than one union for a profession. For example, there are several unions for teachers.

In the workplace, the Union helps to protect your rights as a worker. Union officials may negotiate with the management for better working conditions or higher rates of pay.

If you decide to join a union, you will have to pay a subscription. This can be paid in a lump sum every year or an amount may be taken out of your wage every week.

When you start work, a union official or leader should contact you and explain what the union is for and how you can join.

For more information see the link to the Trade Union Council in Resources.

top