The Equality Authority will tomorrow launch its scheme of Equality Reviews and Action Plans in Kerry at a meeting with employers and trade unions.
“Equality reviews support workplace change and compliance with equality legislation. The reviews explore policy, practice, procedures and perceptions in the workplace for their contribution to equality outcomes. They provide the raw material from which to agree an action plan designed to enhance workplace equality. The Equality Authority’s new scheme is a unique resource for employers and employees seeking to create workplaces characterised by equality for all across the nine grounds of our equality legislation,” states Niall Crowley, CEO of the Equality Authority.
6.3 million euro is available for the new scheme over the next 5 years from the National Development Plan. The scheme allows enterprises to secure the skills of a trained consultant to conduct the reviews and prepare the action plans. A template is provided by the Equality Authority to guide the review process.
“Partnership at the level of the enterprise will be key to the success of this scheme. It is this partnership that will establish workplaces where:
- there is no discrimination
- the diversity in our workforce across all nine grounds of the equality agenda finds inclusion
- steps are taken to meet the specific needs of different groups such as people with disabilities, people with caring responsibilities, migrant workers or older workers so that they can contribute to their full potential
- a workplace culture is created where difference finds a welcome and is accorded a value.
The equality reviews scheme is the first step in creating such a workplace and in realising the benefit that flow to employer and employee from such a workplace”, adds Mr. Crowley
Details of the scheme will be announced at a breakfast meeting on Thursday 28 February 2002 with employers and trade unions. Later the Equality Authority will meet representatives of the community sector to discuss the equality agenda and the Equality Authority’s work programme. The importance of the visit by the Equality Authority to Killarney will be underlined by the attendance of the Board at these events,which is holding its meeting in the Gleneagle Hotel in the afternoon.
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