AQW 25587/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 10/11/2021
Answered On Date: 23/11/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister what plans they have to update equality legislation, such as the Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998, to include nationality and ethnic origin.

Answer:

In line with our commitments in the Racial Equality Strategy 2015-2025, the Department engaged Dr Russell to produce a report, Ethnic Monitoring: The way forward, which recommended the introduction of public sector workforce monitoring, similar to the Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998 (FETO), but for data on ethnicity.

Whilst the report concluded that the Race Relations Order rather than amendments to FETO should be the legislative vehicle for introducing this change, the Department has established a cross Departmental Working Group to take this forward as a priority, including consideration of any legislative requirements.

In parallel, an updated guide to Ethnic Monitoring has been drafted to support future work and we have completed a review of the Race Relations (NI) Order 1997. We plan to consult on proposals for a new bill early next year to maximise the protections offered to our minority ethnic population.