The new Equality Act has come into force across the UK, excluding Northern Ireland, and incorporates 9 separate pieces if legislation. The new measures include employers facing new restrictions on when they can question a candidate about their health or disabilities during the job interview stage; new powers for employment tribunals; and preventing companies from using their confidentiality agreements to stop men and women comparing pay levels, though not forcing companies to disclose their pay policies for both groups. While the Equality and Human Rights Commission welcomed the move, some business groups criticised the timing of its implementation with the British Chambers of Commerce estimating that it would ‘ cost £190m just for businesses to understand the legislation.’

Source: bbc.co.uk/01.10.2010