Equality in Goods and Services

Equality in the Access to and Supply of Goods and Services

Legal Notice 181/2008 – Access to Goods and Services and their Supply (Equal Treatment) Regulations, delineates the illegality of direct and indirect differential treatment, based on gender, in the Access to and Supply of Goods and Services. These regulations apply to ‘all persons who provide goods and services made available to the public irrespective of the person concerned as regards both the public and private sectors, including public bodies, and which are offered outside the area of private and family life, and to all transactions carried out in this context.’ Harassment and sexual harassment are prohibited, and instruction to carry out differential treatment, whether directly or indirectly, also constitutes discrimination for the purpose of this regulation. Legal Notice 85/2007 delineates the illegality of difference in treatment of individuals based on their race and ethnic origin. More specifically, this Legal Notice covers equality in advertisements, direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and discrimination by banks and financial institutions. This legal notice also states that no public or private sector entity, including public bodies shall discriminate against any other person in relation to: 

social protection, including social security and healthcare; 

social advantages;

education;

access to and supply of goods and services which are available to the public, including housing; and

access to any other service as may be designated by law for the purposes of the Legal Notice.