The Equality Act 2010 distils and extends existing discrimination legislation in order to provide a simpler, more consistent and more effective legal framework for preventing discrimination. The Act received Royal Assent on 8 April 2010 and will be implemented in stages from 1 October 2010.

In November 2008, the European Council formally adopted the Temporary Agency Work Directive (2008/104/EC), which affords agency workers equal treatment to directly employed staff. The Directive must be implemented by member states no later than 5 December 2011.

The status of the previous Government's goal to extend statutory maternity pay; statutory adoption pay; and maternity allowance to 52 weeks is uncertain under the coalition Government.