The bill aims to end age discrimination "in the provision of goods, facilities and services". It also includes a ban on wage secrecy clauses in contracts, which forbid colleagues from discussing their pay - in an effort to tackle the pay gap between men and women. Also, 'positive action' on employing staff will be "entirely optional" under the bill and is "not about quotas".
But bosses who wanted to positively discriminate would have to ensure the candidates were "equally suitable" and there was evidence that a group - for example women or ethnic minorities - were underrepresented.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7762808.stm
