Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repeat
Women and Equalities Committee
HC 573
Published 4 June 2025
Recommendations
2
Deferred
Amend Equality Act 2010 to protect freelancers from third-party discrimination and harassment.
Recommendation
The Government should amend the Equality Act 2010 so that the protections relating to the prevention of third-party discrimination and harassment clearly include freelancers and those who are standing in (‘depping’) for another musician. (Recommendation, Paragraph 16)
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Government Response Summary
The government references existing legislation and upcoming bills but clarifies that freelance protection depends on specific circumstances. It has launched a Call for Evidence on Equality Law to consider the scope of protections, deferring specific action on amending the Act for freelancers.
Government Equalities Office
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3
Deferred
Amend Employment Rights Bill to extend sexual harassment prevention duty to freelancers.
Recommendation
The Government should amend the proposed duty on employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment (clause 19 of the Employment Rights Bill) to ensure freelancers are within its scope. (Recommendation, Paragraph 17)
Government Response Summary
The government references current and upcoming legislation but notes that freelancers' protection depends on specific circumstances. It has launched a Call for Evidence on Equality Law to consider the scope of protections against sexual harassment, effectively deferring the specific amendment to include freelancers.
Government Equalities Office
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5
Deferred
Bring Section 14 of the Equality Act 2010 into force by next parliamentary session.
Recommendation
The Government should fulfil its commitment to bring section 14 of the Equality Act 2010 into force and do so by the end of the next parliamentary session at the latest. (Recommendation, Paragraph 24)
Government Response Summary
The government has launched a Call for Evidence on strengthening protections against dual discrimination and is currently considering responses before outlining next steps to implement its commitment, deferring specific action.
Government Equalities Office
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11
Deferred
Amend Employment Rights Bill to align Maternity Allowance with Statutory Maternity Pay.
Recommendation
The Employment Rights Bill should be amended to bring Maternity Allowance into line with Statutory Maternity Pay. This would remove the inherent unfairness that means that, during maternity leave, women in employment can undertake unlimited self-employed work but restricts the …
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Government Response Summary
The government has launched a Parental Leave and Pay Review, which will consider the entire parental leave system, including Maternity Allowance and KIT days, deferring a decision on amending the Employment Rights Bill.
Government Equalities Office
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