With effect from September next year, the States is planning to introduce new laws giving Islanders the right to go to the Employment and Discrimination Tribunal, if they have experienced discrimination on the basis that they are disabled.
The proposed regulations are planned to apply to areas including access to premises, employment, voluntary work, education, and the provision of goods and services.
Similar anti-discrimination laws protecting the characteristics of race, sex and age were introduced between 2014 and 2016.
Before she lodges a proposition to introduce the new laws, Social Security Minister Susie Pinel has launched a consultation seeking Islanders’ views on the matter.
‘To ensure that we introduce appropriate protection, I welcome comments on the proposed scope of the law. This is quite a technical consultation looking at the detail of the draft regulations.’
The minister added that one of the most ‘challenging’ areas would be the introduction of regulations requiring businesses to have disabled access.
‘To ensure that disabled people are not at a disadvantage, many adjustments to premises will be possible at minimal cost, such as wheelchair ramps and hand rails,’ she said.
‘However, altering premises is likely to be problematic in some cases, perhaps due to the size or location of the premises.
The consultation, which includes an online survey, is online at gov.je/consult. The deadline for comments is 10 November 2017.
Public meetings are also due to be held on 24 October and 30 October at St Paul’s Centre, which has disabled access and hearing loop facilities. Places can be booked at eventbrite.co.uk.
Deputy Pinel plans to lodge the proposition early next year.
