Labour plans to extend equal pay rights to black, Asian and minority ethnic staff

Labour intends to broaden equal pay rights to include black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) employees, providing them the same level of protection currently granted to women.

The Guardian has learned that the proposed race equality act will be progressively introduced after consulting with business and union groups, allowing for fair pay adjustments within companies, with back pay effective from the implementation of the new law.

The proposed legislation would equalize the treatment of pay disparity claims based on ethnicity and disability to those based on gender. In conjunction with this, Labour plans to establish a Windrush commissioner to oversee the criticized compensation scheme and ensure justice for the Windrush generation.

Despite earlier concerns regarding Labour’s dedication to combating structural racism, the race equality act, a commitment made by Keir Starmer in 2020 and pursued by a taskforce led by Doreen Lawrence, is progressing.

Anneliese Dodds, Labour’s shadow women and equalities secretary, emphasizes the urgency of delivering race equality amidst rising inequality affecting BAME families during the pandemic, cost of living crisis, and public service cuts.

The forthcoming proposals will address "dual discrimination," allowing individuals experiencing prejudice on multiple grounds, such as race and gender, to file a single discrimination claim. This simplification aims to alleviate tribunal backlogs and benefit various groups, including those discriminated against due to menopause.

The new legislation will mandate public services to gather and report data on staff demographics, pay, and relevant outcomes. It will encompass previously announced measures like mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting and reviews of the school curriculum for diversity.

Additional initiatives include expanding access to mental health services and targeting maternal health disparities among BAME women.

Labour believes the act will invigorate economic growth through better employment opportunities for BAME individuals, potentially boosting salaries by over £26 billion annually. Dr. Shabna Begum from the Runnymede Trust welcomes the act but urges Labour to adopt a comprehensive approach to combat systemic racial inequalities ingrained within societal structures.