ABSTRACT
Union (EU) and as discussed in Chapter 6, the directives, recommendations, action
plans and rulings of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) have driven substantial parts of
UK equality legislation. In Chapter 2, an overview of labour market trends and patterns
across the EU was presented. In this chapter we add information about the wider
context of these trends, examining the different social and employment policy
approaches adopted by governments, identifying a variety of models and their implications for the advancement of equality in the labour market. We also explore the role of
wider social attitudes towards black and minority ethnic (BME) workers and women in
the labour market. Finally, we consider the roles of trade unions as key stakeholders in
the European labour market. We therefore draw on the discussions in some of the earlier
chapters, but within a European context. Some countries have very different policy
approaches to the UK, the examination of which allows us to broaden our perspectives
on equality and diversity, and to consider whether there are examples of more positive
or more negative equality outcomes. Are there policy models which could be successfully implemented within the UK context, and equally, does UK policy offer any
lessons or examples for other European countries?
