Could social class be the 7th diversity strand?
A White Paper published 13 January 2009 on Social Mobility points to a new law requiring the public sector to include ‘social class’ as a factor equal to race, gender and disability when deciding how money, services and jobs should be allocated.
The White Paper suggests the government is considering:
‘An over arching requirement on public authorities to address the inequalities people face associated with where they live, their family background or the job they do.’
The word from Westminster is that the Single Equality Bill going forward in this parliamentary session will be amended to include the social class dimension.
As with other areas of the proposed Bill, wide ranging consultation is taking place and final decisions will not be made until consultation is complete and reported on.
It is recognised however that adding social class will have the effect of putting equality issues near the top of the political agenda in the General Election.
(to view a Diversity Link article on this topic click http://www.diversitylink.co.uk/diversity_newspages/january2009/Equality_of_outcome.html)
Posted 30 January 2009
A White Paper published 13 January 2009 on Social Mobility points to a new law requiring the public sector to include ‘social class’ as a factor equal to race, gender and disability when deciding how money, services and jobs should be allocated.
The White Paper suggests the government is considering:
‘An over arching requirement on public authorities to address the inequalities people face associated with where they live, their family background or the job they do.’
The word from Westminster is that the Single Equality Bill going forward in this parliamentary session will be amended to include the social class dimension.
As with other areas of the proposed Bill, wide ranging consultation is taking place and final decisions will not be made until consultation is complete and reported on.
It is recognised however that adding social class will have the effect of putting equality issues near the top of the political agenda in the General Election.
(to view a Diversity Link article on this topic click http://www.diversitylink.co.uk/diversity_newspages/january2009/Equality_of_outcome.html)
Posted 30 January 2009