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Can International Human Rights Law Help Restore Access to Justice for Disabled Workers?

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  • Rupert Harwood

    (Department of Human Resources & Organisational Behaviour, University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, 30 Park Row, London SE10 9LS, UK)

Abstract

The research literature indicates that legislative changes in recent years, including the introduction of tribunal fees, have made it harder for workers in general to enforce their rights under UK employment laws. Drawing on the author’s qualitative study, conducted in 2015 and with information from 265 participants, this paper finds that these legislative changes could be having disproportionate adverse impacts on disabled workers. Of particular note, fees had deterred substantial numbers from submitting discrimination claims; and it appeared that this reluctance to take legal action had in turn emboldened some employers to commit what might have been found to constitute unlawful acts if taken to tribunal. The paper goes onto consider whether these adverse impacts on disabled workers could render fees unlawful under UK and European equality and human rights law and/or could entail violations of rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The paper concludes that the intent behind UK laws might (in relation to the lawfulness of fees) have been frustrated in the domestic courts and that the impact of any future successes in the domestic courts, or under international law, might be dependent upon public opinion and political expediency. The paper also briefly compares developments in Britain with developments in neighbouring and other comparable jurisdictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Rupert Harwood, 2016. "Can International Human Rights Law Help Restore Access to Justice for Disabled Workers?," Laws, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-23, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlawss:v:5:y:2016:i:2:p:17-:d:67659
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anna Pollert & Andy Charlwood, 2009. "The vulnerable worker in Britain and problems at work," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 23(2), pages 343-362, June.
    2. Anna, Petrenko, 2016. "Мaркування готової продукції як складова частина інформаційного забезпечення маркетингової діяльності підприємств овочепродуктового підкомплексу," Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, vol. 2(1), March.
    3. Jane Holgate & Anna Pollert & Janroj Keles & Leena Kumarappan, 2012. "De-collectivization and employment problems: the experiences of minority ethnic workers seeking help through Citizens Advice," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 26(5), pages 772-788, October.
    4. John Hills, 2010. "An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK - Report of the National Equality Panel," CASE Reports casereport60, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    5. Deborah Foster & Patricia Fosh, 2010. "Negotiating ‘Difference’: Representing Disabled Employees in the British Workplace," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 48(3), pages 560-582, September.
    6. Andy Charlwood & Anna Pollert, 2014. "Informal Employment Dispute Resolution among Low-Wage Non-Union Workers: Does Managerially Initiated Workplace Voice Enhance Equity and Efficiency?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 52(2), pages 359-386, June.
    7. Ralph Fevre & Amanda Robinson & Duncan Lewis & Trevor Jones, 2013. "The ill-treatment of employees with disabilities in British workplaces," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 27(2), pages 288-307, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rupert Harwood, 2016. "What Has Limited the Impact of UK Disability Equality Law on Social Justice?," Laws, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-23, November.

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