Gender Equality Act 1986/609, 2005/232

The objectives of this Act are to prevent discrimination based on gender, to promote equality between women and men, and thus to improve the status of women, particularly in working life. Every employer must promote equality between women and men within working life in a purposeful and systematic manner. In order to promote gender equality in working life, the employer must, with due regard to the resources available and any other relevant factors: act in such a way that job vacancies attract applications from both women and men; promote the equitable recruitment of women and men in the various jobs and create for them equal opportunities for career advancement; promote equality between women and men in the terms of employment, especially in pay; develop working conditions to ensure they are suitable for both women and men; facilitate the reconciliation of working life and family life for women and men by paying attention especially to working arrangements; and act to prevent the occurrence of discrimination based on gender.