Sex Discrimination Act 1975

The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to protect men and women from discrimination on the grounds of sex. The Act is mainly in relation to employment, training, education, harassment, the provision of goods and services, and the disposal of premises. The Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Amendment) Regulations 2008 amended parts of this Act to apply to transgender people. Other amendments have been introduced by the Sex Discrimination Act 1986, the Employment Act 1989, the Equality Act 2006, and other legislation such as rulings by the European Court of Justice.

The issue of men being paid more than women for the doing the same job is often raised but rarely addressed. Now there is a Single Equality Bill launched by the government with the aim to combat this pay gap.

There are many excuses that companies use as to why men often get paid more, but this bill will hopefully open up the secrecy and allow women to compete equally with their male colleagues.

It will be a few years before the bill applies across the workforce but it is a step in the right direction for fair and equal pay.