Fears the Equality Bill would be discarded have been quashed.

There were concerns key amendments make employees feel more secure in their jobs may be made to the bill due to the economic environment. Some had claimed the bill may have been delayed or even binned. The laws were seen as costly to implement and would put even more pressure on companies in the current economic environment. It had looked certain that Lord Mandelson would call for the bill to be scrapped. These claims have been firmly denied by the Government.

The law is going to enhance maternity leave, while the equality law will reward companies with strong equality records with government contracts. It will also allow for colleagues to compare wages to ensure equality within the work place.

A spokeswoman for Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality told Personnel Today: “The Equality Bill is going ahead as planned and will not be put on hold because of current difficulties. There have been some recent incorrect media reports that we have scrapped parts of the Bill. The Bill remains as it did and is on target to be published in April."