Commenting on the government’s publication today (Thursday) of its plans for the Equalities Bill, the CBI’s Deputy Director-General, John Cridland, said:
"Business supports moves to promote equality, and the UK already has some of the strictest anti-discrimination laws anywhere in the world. So, the government’s plans rightly concentrate on non-legal means of moving forward on equality - such as better use of public procurement and promoting positive action - and the CBI welcomes this.
"But the debate on equality often misses the point. Unlawful discrimination in the private sector is not the main reason why inequalities still exist. The issues are cultural, educational and occupational.
"So, the CBI would never support unnecessary legislation which isn’t targeted on the real issues. Mandatory equal pay audits or mandatory disclosure of meaningless statistics should not be part of the government’s plans. This would be no more than gesture politics."
Commenting on plans to increase the use of positive action, John Cridland said:
"We must encourage more applicants from under-represented groups and the government needs to work with employers to provide practical advice on what they can and cannot do."
On proposals to use government purchasing power to increase equality, he said:
"Public procurement can be an effective lever. But making firms that are bidding for government contracts audit their pay would be pointless and would do nothing to improve equality in the workplace."
And on proposals to outlaw age discrimination, he said:
"Unjustified discrimination in the provision of goods and services is clearly unacceptable. But this area is a minefield of definitions and business remains sceptical on the question of workable legislation."