Race Relations Act 1976

These regulations state that it is unlawful for an employer to treat or fail to prevent the treatment of workers less favourably because of their colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins.

The Regulations make it unlawful on the grounds of race to:

• discriminate directly against anyone - treating someone less favourably on racial grounds;
• discriminate indirectly against anyone - applying practices that might favour one racial group over another;
• subject someone to harassment. Harassment is unwanted conduct that violates a person's dignity and creates a hostile or degrading environment;
• victimise someone because they have made or intend to make a complaint or allegation, or have given or intend to give evidence in relation to a complaint of discrimination on racial grounds.

Race Relations Act 1976 in full. This Act is reproduced with amendments as at 1st January 2005
Race Relations Act 1976 pdf (242kb)