Equality Act

The Equality Act 2017

The Isle of Man Equality Act 2017 will provide a unified legal framework to protect people from discrimination in both the workplace and through the provision of goods and services in wider society. It sets out the different ways in which it is unlawful to treat someone.

When fully implemented it will replace several current Acts of legislation including:

The Disability Discrimination Act 2006
Employment (Sex Discrimination) Act 2006
Race Relations Act 2004
Breastfeeding Act 2011
The Employment Act 2006 – the main statute which contains individual employment rights, has been amended in a number of important respects

Find out more about who will be protected from discrimination, the types of discrimination under the law and what action you will be able to take if you feel you've been unfairly discriminated against.

View the full Equality Act 2017 and explanatory notes (these explanatory notes are subject to change)

Equality Act commencement dates

To allow businesses, organisations and individuals enough time to prepare for the implementation of the Equality Act, provisions surrounding the protected characteristics are being brought in over two different phased periods, known as commencement dates:

1 January 2019