Equality and Employment Rights by Decade
Decade
2010s
2000s
Rights Acquired
Equality Act 2010 (Labour)
The Employment Tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal Fees Order 2013 (SI makes
changes to Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007)
The Employment Act 2008
Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007
Formation of the Equality and Human Rights Commission 2007
Work and Families Act 2006
Equality Act 2006
Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006
Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006
The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 (goods and services)
Disability Discrimination (Amendment) Act 2005
Employment Relations Act 2004 (and 2002)
Information and Consultation Regulations 2004
Warwick Agreement (Trade Unions) 2004
Civil Partnership Act 2004
Gender Recognition Act 2004 (enabled trans people to get their UK birth certificates and legal
gender changed)
Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 (introduced to protect people against
discrimination based on their
sexual orientation)
Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003
Local Government Act 2004 (repeal of section 28)
Government
1990s
1980s
Gender Recognition Act 2004 (allows trans people who have taken decisive steps to live fully and
permanently in their acquired gender to gain legal recognition in that gender)
Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000
Disability Rights Commission Act 2000
Employment Relations Act 1999
Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations 1999
Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations1999 (makes it illegal for employers to
discriminate against trans people)
Human Rights Act 1998
National Minimum Wage Act 1998
Working Time Regulations 1998
Employment Tribunals (Dispute Resolution Act) 1998
Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
Employment Rights Act 1996
Employment Tribunals Act 1996
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
Race Relations Remedies Act 1994 (removes ceiling on compensation awarded by Industrial
Tribunals)
Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993
Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992
Disability Living & Disability Working Allowance 1991
Employment Act 1990 (secondary TU action unlawful, selective dismissal of strikers)
Employment Act 1989 (also 1988, 1980 and 1982)
Local Government Act 1988 (section 28 made it illegal for any council or government body to
‘intentionally promote homosexuality, or publish material with the intention of promoting
homosexuality’)
Sex Discrimination (Amendment) Act 1986 (enables women to retire at same age as men and lifts
restrictions preventing women working night shifts in factories).
1970s
The Equal Pay (Amendment) Act 1985 (allows women to be paid the same as men for work of
equal value)
Trade Union Act 1984
Equal Opportunities Commission created 1976
Race Relations Act 1976
Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act (introduced to protect women and children
from domestic violence)
Employment Protection Act 1975 (introduces statutory maternity provision and makes it illegal to
sack a woman because she is pregnant)
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
Equal Pay Act 1970 (Labour)