http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3375
http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3281 men could be legally blocked from getting jobs under new anti-discrimination laws being considered by Labour.
Employers would be able to give http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3631 to women or ethnic minority candidates in preference to other applicants, under the plans unveiled by equalities minister Harriet Harman.
If two candidates were http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3500.
But the plans are due to be criticised by business leaders and last night, even equalities campaigners expressed doubt.
Miss Harman – known as Harriet Harperson for her politically correct views – wants to look at how to bring U.S.-style “positive action” to Britain, saying it is vital to ensure the workforce more accurately reflects the demographic make-up of the population.
She says too many women and people from ethnic minorities are being held back because they cannot break through the “glass ceiling”. The new laws would only come into play where two equally qualified candidates had applied for the same post, allowing the employer to tip the balance in favour of minority candidates.
Businesses would not be compelled to favour the female or black candidate but the law would be changed to ensure they could not be sued for turning down a white man.
The proposals would also allow universities to select more female students in male-dominated subjects such as science.
But equal rights campaigners said the new rules would have a limited effect, and that action should be targeted on equal pay.
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