Cuts could wreck equality body's international status

21 Mar 2011 03:42 PM

Planned cuts to the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission could wreck its standing and influence around the world, PCS warns.

The EHRC currently enjoys an ‘A’ status as a United Nations-accredited national human rights institution (NHRI), but it is planning budget cuts of almost 60%, having already been cut once under the new UK government which was formed in May 2010.

The commission also wants to more than halve the number of staff from 460 to 200 within 18 months, and its helpline, grant-making function and several offices are under threat.

The severity of the proposed cuts puts the commission’s international status at risk, meaning it would no longer be able to engage fully in the human rights council of the United Nations, or work within the international co-ordinating committee, which was established to strengthen and link the work of NHRIs across the globe.

When EHRC formed in 2007 its budget was £70 million. This was later reduced to £60 million, then £53 million by the new government last year. The union has learned the government now wants to cut funding down to £22.5 million by 2015.

The warning comes as PCS members working at EHRC consider a vote for industrial action over the cuts. Ballot papers will be sent out tomorrow, the day before chancellor George Osborne delivers his budget.

Cuts on this scale would mean employers and public authorities will no longer be held to account if they carry out discriminatory policies.

It would also effectively end the commission’s legal work, a recent example of which was the support it gave to a case taken by Sharon Coleman, which ended in victory at the European Court of Justice and ensured six million carers in Britain are protected against discrimination in employment.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “If these planned cuts go through, the EHRC will be rendered toothless and we believe it will be irreparably damaged in the eyes of its international peers.

“Our members will not stand by and allow this to happen and we fully expect they will vote strongly in favour of industrial action to protect the vital services they provide to some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.”