Discrimination: Standard uniform requirement discriminating against Sikhs held justifiable

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that a requirement by a health authority that enrolled nurses wear a standard uniform which could not be varied is "justifiable" within the meaning of s.1(1)(b)(ii) of the Race Relations Act and that in applying such a requirement to a Sikh woman, whose religion requires her to wear trousers, the employers had not unlawfully indirectly discriminated against her.

In Kingston & Richmond Area Health Authority v Kaur [1981] lRLR 337, the EAT overrules an Industrial Tribunal who find that the uniform requirement unlawfully discriminated against Sikhs.