Jersey to get anti-discrimination law

Jersey will have its first anti-discrimination law by the end of 2012, the States has said.

The Council of Ministers has agreed to ensure funding and legislation is in place by then. Initially it was to delay it due to a £100,000 budget cut.

When implemented, the legislation will make it illegal to discriminate against people based on factors including age, gender, disability or race.

Supporters have campaigned for such a law for several years.

The Jersey Advisory and Conciliation Service (JACS), which is among those to have called for the law, said it deals with about 350 cases related to discrimination issues each year and that a law would force offending firms to alter attitudes.