Bias against old and gay workers to be outlawed by 2006

Discrimination at work on grounds of sexual orientation, religion and age will be outlawed for the first time in Britain under plans unveiled by the Government yesterday. Barbara Roche, the Equality minister, said new laws would be introduced to combat harassment and prevent people from being refused jobs because of prejudice.

Mrs Roche also confirmed that a single equalities body would replace the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Disability Rights Commission. Most campaigners welcomed the pledges but some said key parts of the plans, such as outlawing age discrimination, would not come into force until 2006. Critics were also disappointed that discrimination would be outlawed only in the workplace, not in housing, health, education and other services.

Publishing a long-awaited consultation document on the issue, titled Equality and Diversity, Mrs Roche said she wanted to extend to gays, lesbians, older people and religious minorities the workplace protection that now applies to race, sex and disabilities. To comply with EU directives, discrimination would be banned for sexual orientation and religion by 2003 and for age from 2006.

"These proposals will tackle unfair discrimination at work because it's bad for business and bad for Britain, as the best employers already know," the minister said." One proposal is to make explicit in legislation for the first time that harassment is discrimination.

Julie Mellor, chairwoman of the EOC said extending rights was a big step forward towards creating a fairer society. "Government recognition of the strong case for the future equality machinery to have enforcement and promotion powers, to be independent and properly resourced, gives much to build on together during the consultation process," she said.

Ms Mellor said she hoped ministers would also look at how to protect against discrimination in areas other than the workplace. Sarah Spencer of the Institute for Public Policy Research said she welcomed the Government's "exciting vision" of a single equality commission. She added: "We are disappointed that protection from discrimination in the provision of public services such as health and education, already available to ethnic minorities, women and disabled people, will not be made available to other members of society."

Tessa Harding, head of policy for Help the Aged, said she wanted a "stage one" single equalities body to cover age, sexual orientation and religion. This could then be expanded to cover race, sex and disability.

"With the new strands of religion and sexual orientation to be in place by December 2003, and age discrimination being on hold until 2006, the Commission should be set up now to ensure the knowledge and expertise is in place to cover these three new fields," she said.

"Leaving the new strands of religion, sexual orientation and from 2006 age in the hands of employment tribunals is a recipe for confusion both for individuals and for employers."