The British Humanist Association (BHA) has responded to the Welfare Reform Green Paper ‘No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility’.
Naomi Phillips, BHA Public Affairs Officer, said, ‘Over the last couple of years there has been a drive by the Government to increase greatly the number of religious organisations in the supply of welfare. Unlike other ‘third sector’ organisations, religious organisations have exemptions from equality legislation allowing them to discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation and against those of the ‘wrong’ or no religion, even when working under contract to provide a public service. Moreover, unlike public bodies, contracted organisations are not bound by the Human Rights Act.’
Ms Phillips continued, ‘In our submission, we make a number of proposals to mitigate the negative effects of the inclusion of religious organisations as public service providers. We are continuing to work with unions and others to keep our public services inclusive, secular, equal and inclusive.’
Proposals in BHA submission:
It is vital that there are legislative provisions in the Welfare Reform Bill that make clear that:
- Any exemptions in equality law that allow religious organisations to discriminate in employment on any grounds do not apply when working under contract to provide welfare and employment services.
- Any exemptions in equality law that allow religious organisations to discriminate in service provision on any grounds do not apply when working under contract to provide welfare and employment services.
- All organisations working under contract to provide welfare and employment services must act – and be held accountable – as if they were bound by the Human Rights Act 1998.
- Any organisation contracted to provide welfare and employment services must be bound by the same equality and anti-discrimination regulations and duties as public sector providers.
- All services must be provided in a secular way, that is, in a way that is neutral and not religious. This would include outlawing proselytising, preaching, praying and any other religious activity, whether compulsory, voluntary or even that which is visible in the context of service provision. It would also prohibit the provision of welfare and employment services from places of worship or where there is religious symbolism on display.
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For further comment or information, please contact Naomi Phillips on 020 7079 3585.
Read the BHA’s report on the contracting out of public services to religious organisations, ‘Quality and Equality: Human Rights, Public Services and Religious Organisations’ at http://tinyurl.com/25w2hb .
The British Humanist Association (BHA) is the national charity representing and supporting the non-religious and campaigns for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief. It is the largest organisation in the UK working for a secular society.