You are in: Workplace > Employment Equality (Religion & Belief) Regulations 2003

The Regulations are part of the UK government’s enforcement of The European Community Employment Equality Directive 2000/78/EC. All Member States were required to incorporate the new rules encompassed in this Directive into national law by December 2nd 2003. The Regulations will apply to England, Scotland and Wales.

Existing legislation already protects people against discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability and gender reassignment. The new regulations will make it unlawful also to discriminate against workers because of religious or similar belief.

A further set of Regulations, which are effective from December 1st 2003, will protect people from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Regulations incorporating matters related to disability and age have to be in force by October 2004 and December 2006 respectively.

The Governments approach to the development of the Regulations has been to ensure that requirements are consistent across equality legislation, where practicable, to make it easier for everyone to understand and comply with the law.