Publications for Diversity and Equality Law Committee
Non-biological mothers gained equal parental rights through constitutional court judgment in Italy
A recent judgment of the Italian Constitutional Court stated that the so-called ‘intentional mother’ (in a female same-sex couple, the non-biological mother) is entitled to the mandatory leave of absence from work which is normally intended for fathers in opposite-sex couples. This article explains the rationale for the ruling and how this decision may open the way towards the recognition of diverse family structures and contribute to the principle of equal treatment, thus indicating a meaningful signal of change that could, over time, contribute to potentially strengthening the legal status of LGBTQ+ families in Italy. It also considers the broader implications that this first step may have for Italian law, European human rights standards and international debates on inclusive family rights, including at the workplace.
Released on Oct 6, 2025
Artificial intelligence in Indian workplaces: diversity law issues from hiring to exits
AI has transitioned from experimental expensive novelty to a core affordable operational tool in organisations from various industries including those in India. This article considers the role AI plays in hiring and recruitment, employee performance management and redundancy, among other areas, and the challenges AI presents in these roles.
Released on Sep 24, 2025
Workplace diversity and inclusion: India’s evolving approach towards embracing DEI
This article examines India’s evolving DEI compliance landscape, highlights compliance and cultural gaps across sectors and explores operational challenges and strategies employers must navigate to embed inclusion in both form and function.
Released on Sep 24, 2025
Non-discrimination rules in job advertising in Ukraine
This article describes the recent changes in employment laws in Ukraine regarding non-discrimination rules during recruitment, in particular in the field of job advertising. It also examines the relevant legislation’s alignment with Ukraine’s EU integration objectives and existing national legal frameworks.
Released on Sep 24, 2025
Legislative overview of China’s protection for equal employment of special groups
During recruitment and employment, employers may differentiate against job seekers based on factors such as gender, age or health status, potentially constituting employment discrimination. To protect equal employment and participation in corporate democratic management of relatively vulnerable groups, new regulations are continuously being issued to adapt to socio-economic development and changes.
Released on Sep 24, 2025
From compliance to culture: navigating the new sexual harassment laws in Great Britain
Tackling workplace harassment, particularly sexual harassment, remains a significant priority for the UK government, driven by persistent cultural issues and high-profile cases across a variety of sectors. Legislative developments in the last year coupled with upcoming provisions contained in the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) (a very significant new piece of legislation containing a wide range of new employment rights which is currently working its way through the UK Parliament), mean employers are having to reassess and adapt their approach to managing harassment in the workplace.
Released on Sep 24, 2025
Digital nomads: a Canadian perspective
Living and working on a nomadic basis is not just limited to working in different countries – an understated aspect of the digital nomadism phenomenon is that many people choose to be digital nomads within the borders of a country. In Canada, domestic digital nomads may travel vast distances – the distance from Toronto to Vancouver is greater than the distance from Paris to Moscow – and cause numerous legal challenges.
Released on Sep 24, 2025
Diversity data collection in India: how should employers tread in the current era?
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) seems to be at an inflection point in the Far West with the three concepts having witnessed quite a roller coaster ride in the recent past. The legislative framework in India, however, remains unchanged in promoting diversity and ensuring anti-discrimination. Keeping this in mind, employers are often curious about their ability to legally collect diversity data from their employees in India. In this article, the authors explore the nuances of continuing to collect diversity data in India in the dynamic DEI space.
Released on Jun 20, 2025
Latest developments in Italian case law on flexible working schemes as a ‘reasonable accommodation’ for disability
Refusing remote work to workers with disabilities, when the arrangement is ‘reasonable’ under the circumstances, qualifies as discrimination. Employers must pay particular attention to the legal framework on ‘reasonable accommodations’ to ensure compliance with law and mitigate the risk of legal disputes, potential liabilities and reputational damage.
Released on Apr 4, 2025
Demographic changes and the war on talent – a catalyst for workplace diversity and inclusion
This article examines the societal changes that are having the largest impact for employers in recruitment. Reviewing recent developments and highlighting the key upcoming changes in UK employment law, this article explains why navigating the changing landscape of legal rights, cultural shifts and diversity and inclusion should be at the top of the agenda for employers.
Released on Apr 4, 2025
Building effective and equitable policies: moving beyond the basics of legal compliance
Creating meaningful workplace policies goes beyond legal requirements and is significantly about building a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. While compliance is essential, it should be seen as the foundation, not the finish line. This article explores how workplace policies can move beyond statutory obligations that promote true equity.
Released on Apr 3, 2025
The war for talent, labour shortages and demographic changes: catalysts for workplace diversity and inclusion?
The war for talent, ongoing labour shortages and demographic shifts are reshaping the global workforce, driving an increased emphasis on workplace diversity and inclusion. Companies, particularly in Argentina, are adapting to these challenges by implementing flexible work arrangements, prioritising mental health, offering competitive compensation and leveraging technology in recruitment, all while navigating evolving legal frameworks to remain competitive.
Released on Apr 3, 2025
Navigating the multigenerational workforce and advocating for gender pay equality in the Thai legal sphere
Managing a multigenerational workforce poses challenges for Thai law firms, where traditional values often clash with modern practices. This article explores these challenges, and advocates for gender pay equality, emphasising the need for inclusive policies and proactive measures to bridge generational and gender gaps in the workplace.
Released on Apr 25, 2024
Member States and employers to get ready for more pay transparency in the European Union
On 10 May 2023, the European Union (EU) adopted the Pay Transparency Directive to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women through pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms (‘the Pay Transparency Directive’ or the ‘Directive’). Member States have until 7 June 2026 to transpose the Directive into their national laws.
Released on Apr 25, 2024
Information and Communication Technologies and its impact on the Generation Gap
In the era of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the immediacy of communications, customers increasingly expect concise, fast and precise responses. Promptly answering to the business requirements is pivotal. Like industrial organisations, those that offer services also need to adapt their processes and resources to meet this demand for agility and efficiency. Digitalisation has become a vital tool to satisfy these needs. It optimises, simplifies and facilitates tasks, increases productivity and improves results. But, for whom?
Released on Apr 25, 2024
Gender pay equality – what is the United Kingdom waiting for?
This article examines the progress of gender pay equality in the UK as of 2024 and considers the possibility of reducing the ‘pay gap’ in the future, looking at developments in certain industries and the EU and US which could be adopted more generally in the UK.
Released on Apr 25, 2024
Neurodiversity at the workplace: what employers need to know
Neurodiversity requires a more open and active conversation at the workplace. Small efforts from corporations to sensitively approach the subject could go a long way in making the workplace more inclusive for neurodiverse individuals.
Released on Apr 25, 2024
Artificial intelligence in HR processes: the boundaries of Italian employment law
Italy has recently experienced an increase in the adoption of AI-assisted tools among employers seeking to leverage technology to enhance HR efficiency and decision-making processes. This is particularly so in talent identification/recruitment processes and in training/performance-measurement areas. However, the Italian legal framework (ie the applicable laws, some of them dating many years ago, and how they are interpreted by the courts, tend to be rather restrictive) poses significant limitations on the implementation of AI-driven tools, principally as concerns regarding the safeguarding of workers’ rights, transparency and data protection, information to unions and non-discrimination. This contribution tries to focus on how to balance such restrictions with the need to keep pace with the advances in AI, which are expected to reshape the HR world.
Released on Apr 25, 2024
Rethinking Indian law on equal pay: towards gender pay equality in workplace
This article discusses the Indian legal framework on equal pay and analyses how the principle of ‘equal pay for same work or work of similar nature’ limis the efficacy of addressing the complex dynamics of pay inequality. Furthermore, the article explores the broader concept of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value to tackle the long-standing issue of gender pay disparity in workplaces.
Released on Apr 25, 2024
Intersex rights emerging across Europe
This article highlights the challenges faced by the intersex community and discusses the increasing recognition of intersex rights across Europe. It focuses on recent legal developments in Greece and France, data inquiry pursued by the Polish ombudsman office, the soft measures adopted by the Council of Europe and the European Parliament and the recent judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The conclusion emphasises the underrepresentation of intersex rights and calls for broader recognition in the international human rights community.
Released on Feb 8, 2024
Beyond barriers: the role of technology in disability-related inclusion
The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and assistive robotics provide a world of opportunity for employers with regard to creating an inclusive workplace for people with disabilities.
Released on Sep 21, 2023
UK four-day working week trial yields promising results
This article examines the outcomes of the world's largest trial of a four-day working week to date and considers the issues employers need to take into account when contemplating making the change.
Released on Sep 21, 2023
Retention strategies for female talent in law firms
This article outlines the conditions law firms must put in place to cater specifically to the needs of their female talent, in order to increase female retention rates and, as a result, improve diversity and inclusion.
Released on Sep 21, 2023
New protocol from Italian institutions to monitor gender equality in the workplace
This article outlines a new protocol executed by the Italian National Labour Inspectorate and National Equality Counsellor, who will work together to carry out in-depth analysis of initiatives concerning labour issues from a gender perspective.
Released on Sep 21, 2023
Male allies in the pursuit of gender equity and inclusion
For years, women have been calling out the invisible barriers they face in the different aspects of their lives, but many times their calls have only been heard by other women. When men hear, understand and bring their voice to these issues, their efforts to advocate for closing the gender gap are more likely to be heard at higher levels and have more impact.
Released on Sep 21, 2023
Inclusion and integration of employees with disabilities in business: sought-after changes in Italy
Despite an inadequate legislative framework that has failed to support the effective inclusion of disabled people in business in recent decades, progressive practices are gradually emerging in the business community whereby the hiring of employees with disabilities (through identification and valuation of their diverse talents) becomes a mutually profitable opportunity and a virtuous compromise between social responsibility and business needs.
Released on Sep 21, 2023
Four-day work week: Canadian legal implications cannot be ignored
This article considers the potential implications that may arise from a transition to a four-day work week by companies in Canada.
Released on Sep 21, 2023
Disability inclusion in the workplace: the evolving landscape in India
While many Indian employers have embraced affirmative action, in particular in the last couple of years, there is a lot more to be done to ensure inclusivity in its true sense. This article outlines the legal standpoint in India and the relevant obligations on employees.
Released on Sep 21, 2023
Disability diversity in the Indian workplace
This article considers the evolving landscape of disability rights in Indian workplaces, with a focus on progressive initiatives shaping a more accessible and equitable professional environment for all.
Released on Sep 21, 2023
Brazil’s new equal pay law: a big step towards gender parity
This article provides an overview of Law 14,611/23, which introduces several obligations for private legal entities with more than 100 employees to guarantee equal salary and compensation criteria for women and men undertaking work of equal value; namely, the publication of a bi-annual Salary Transparency Report.
Released on Sep 21, 2023