National legislation may allow for special measures of protection or assistance directed at particular groups addressing historic or traditional inequities. Companies should hence be aware of national, legal constraints before formulating an action plan on equal opportunities.
The directives recognise explicitly that outlawing discrimination will not necessarily be enough by itself to ensure genuine equality of opportunity for everyone in society. Specific measures might be called for to compensate for disadvantages arising from a person’s racial or ethnic origin, age or other characteristics which might lead to them being treated unfairly. For example, ethnic minorities may need special training and specific help to have a reasonable chance of finding a job. Putting on training courses or making different arrangements especially for them are ways of improving their chances. The directives allow positive action of this kind to be undertaken and do not regard it as infringing the principle of equal treatment.
an action that you feel when you realize that every force in your entire system is pushed forward, so to speak, and that it is passing through what may be termed an expanding and enlarging state of feeling or consciousness
Also called 'affirmative action'. The principle used in equal opportunities policies. According to its philosophical position, disadvantage is only likely to be removed if a temporary bias is accepted in favour of the disadvantaged group. A Council Recommendation on positive action for women was adopted in December 1984.
Taking steps to overcome past disadvantage or under representation. This might involve advertising to encourage candidates from a particular group to compete for jobs; or training to help develop the potential of under-represented groups
A virtuous action that ultimately results in happiness.
In certain limited circumstances, the Race Relations Act 1976 allows employers and others to take provide training and encouragement to people of a particular racial group, if they are under-represented in particular work. The Act allows you to: Provide facilities or services (in training, education or welfare) to meet the particular needs of people from a particular racial group, for example English language classes. See section 35 of the Act. Target job training at racial groups that have been under-represented in particular work during the previous 12 months – see sections 37 and 38 of the Act Encourage applications from those racial groups that have been under-represented in particular work during the previous 12 months – see section 38 of the Act. More information about what the Act allows you to do can be found in the Legal Advice section of this site. Positive action
