Select committee: Women and Equalities Committee
Conclusion 10
2nd Report - Misogyny in music
Published 30 Jan 2024
Addressed to Government Equalities Office
Women and Equalities Committee Misogyny in music All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Freelance workers in the music industry are more likely to be discriminated against yet in many cases do not have the same level of protections under equalities legislation as those subject to more formal working relations. The Government recognises this, as it does the benefits of extending the time limit to bring Equality Act-based cases to the Employment Tribunal. However, in both cases it has failed to make the necessary changes, 60 meaning vulnerable people continue to be unable to access the support they need while perpetrators of discrimination and harassment are allowed to go unpunished. We do not accept that the volume of work in the courts system is a reason for further delay. (Conclusion, Paragraph 61)
From: Women and Equalities Committee, 2nd Report - Misogyny in music (HC 129), 30 January 2024
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 19 April 2024 (deadline 10 April 2024).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the report and says everyone should be able to work in the music industry without misogyny and discrimination, but it declines several recommendations on legislation, licensing and parental leave.
- On Section 14 of the Equality Act 2010, the government "has no plans to implement the dual discrimination provision" "at this time", considering Section 14 "unnecessary". On parental leave, there are "currently no plans" to introduce entitlements for self-employed fathers or partners.
- On recording studio licensing, the government "agrees that recording studios should provide a safe environment" but has "no plans at the present time" to introduce new licensing requirements.
- The government "continues to look closely at extending" the time limit for Equality Act claims to an employment tribunal from three to six months, and will "take account of the Committee's report". It also notes a duty on employers to take "reasonable steps" to prevent sexual harassment from October 2024.
- On non-disclosure agreements, the government "has also committed to bringing forward legislation" so they cannot be enforced if they prevent victims reporting a crime. On a retrospective moratorium, it says there "could be unintended consequences".