The Human Rights Act of 1998: Its implications for British workers and political resistance

The Human Rights Act of 1998: Its implications for British workers and political resistance

Introduction

The Parliament passed the Human Right Act in 1998 and the European Conventions on Human Rights became an integral part of the law of United Kingdom. The ways people relate with each other and to the government have changed since then. A new culture of human rights has been introduced. The enactment of the new law was offered a mixed reception from the public and different institution and entities. For some, the changes brought about by the Human Rights Act are positive and are welcome. According to this opinion, the Human Rights Act five human rights of every citizen a central place in UK law. Basic of right of everyone must now be observed, respected, and protected by the government and other entities and individuals. The rights the protection of which is ensured by the Human Rights Act include right to the freedom to expression, right to freedom of religious and social beliefs, right of equality, right to freedom of action in private life and rights that concern even one's physical and mental health. And most importantly, one can now go to any UK court for the enforcement of these rights if necessary. There are, also, those in UK who do not have a good perception about the Human Rights Act. The opposition is mainly motivated by political reasons and the Act has often been linked with cultural xenophobia. There are various forces in the society that particularly provoked and promoted this opposition and there are media reports against the Act; a practice in that has been observed continuously since UK became the member of European Union.

In UK, the old human rights legislation and system has been very ambiguous. The UK prides in its long history of homeland as free country with a strong belief in civil and individual liberty but system of unwritten rights and law never prevented the governments and other authorities attempting to curb freedom of expression, privacy, freedom of belief and limiting other liberties by imposing their will forcefully, whenever suited them. When case were filed against these atrocities in the courts, they were, most of the times, simply dropped on the grounds that courts have had minimal power to proceed such cases filed by an ordinary citizen if his or her basic human rights were violated, sometimes grossly, by the authorities and public entities. This paper attempts to explore the impact of Human Rights Act of 1998 on British workers and assess the reason behind the political resistance the Act has face since its inception.

Discussion

The Human Rights Act of 1998 presents various implications concerning the workplace for employers and these implications are being rigorously enforced throughout the country. Now the workers are entitled to frame charges against their employers if the workers feel their rights have been violated. The Act can also be used to challenge employer's decision regarding ...