Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay
Anti-discrimination branch has responsibility for providing and updating legislation which tackles unfair discrimination on the basis of a person’s gender.
The two key pieces of legislation are:-
- The Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (as amended) prohibits sex discrimination against individuals in the areas of employment, education, and the provision of goods, facilities and services and in the disposal or management of premises.
- The Equal Pay Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 (as amended) makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate between men and women in terms of their pay and conditions where they are doing the same or similar work; work rated as equivalent; or work of equal value.
More information on this legislation can be found on the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland website
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.Consultation on Gender Goods and Services Directive
The Directive implements the principle of equal treatment between men and women in the access to and supply of goods and services. The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister is currently consulting on “Implementing EU Equality Obligations in Northern Ireland: The Gender Goods and Services Directive”.
This consultation will run from 30 July until 21 September 2007. The implementation deadline is 21 December 2007.
- Consultation on “Implementing EU Equality Obligations in Northern Ireland: The Gender Goods and Services Directive” (PDF 713 KB).
- Gender Directive online questionnaire
- Response booklet (PDF 62.8 KB)
To assist you in considering your response you may wish to refer to:
- The draft Sex Discrimination Order 1976 (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (PDF 65.6 KB)
- Regulatory Impact Assessment (PDF 98.2 KB)
- Screening Assessment (PDF 63.2 KB)
- European Union Council Directive 2004/113/EC (PDF 59 KB)
- Sex Discrimination (NI) Order 1976
We welcome your views on the document.
