Employment law solicitors have welcomed a government review of equality laws, but are warning that it cannot stop discrimination and must address how disputes can be dealt with effectively when they arise.

The government's fundamental review, announced last week, will investigate the causes of 'persistent discrimination and inequality', and will also look at moving towards a Single Equality Act and the development of a new commission for equality and human rights.


Makbool Javaid, an employment partner at City firm DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, backed the move as a way of dealing with developments such as extended maternity leave and more rights against discrimination on the grounds of age, religion, and sexual orientation.


But he called for the review to examine how to address disputes at the minimum cost to the worker, employee and the public purse. 'The review should look at ways of resolving disputes in the workplace at an early stage so they don't result in litigation,' he argued.