Equality in the Labour Market

The Act on Equal Treatment in the Labour Market no. 86/2018 explicitly provides for the prohibition of all discrimination in the labour market, whether direct or indirect, on the basis of race, ethnic origin, religion, life stance, disability, reduced working capacity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual characteristics or gender expression. This is important to promote active participation by most people in the labour market, but participation is considered one of the most important ways to prevent social isolation and poverty. The legislation took account of Directive 2000/78/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on general rules on equal treatment in the labour market and the economy.

With a clear ban on discrimination in the labour market, the aim is to promote active participation as much as possible in the Icelandic labour market and prevent the social isolation of individuals. The goal is also to avoid the views of different racial merit being rooted in Icelandic society.

Objectives of the Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights Irrespective of Gender no. 150/2020 is to work against pay discrimination and other forms of gender-based discrimination in the labour market and enabling everyone, irrespective of gender, to reconcile their work and family life. Other objectives of the Act include promoting gender-neutral classification of jobs, focusing especially on the status of people whose gender is registered as neutral in Registers Iceland, and by working against multiple discrimination. Special emphasis shall be placed on equalising the positions of women and men as regards managerial and influential positions. Finally, the Act regulates companies and institutions with 25 or more employees in principle per annum to set themselves a gender equality plan or mainstream gender equality perspectives into their personnel policy

Individuals, companies, institutions or non-governmental organisations that consider that violations of these Acts have been committed against them or their members may, in their own name or that of their members, as appropriate, submit their case to the Equality Complaints Committee.