Spain: The bill for Equality helps woman

The bill for Equality establishes that it is the accused party which must prove it is innocent if there are ?signs? of discrimination. The bill for Equality states that collective agreements may make ?exclusions, reservations and preferences? when enterprises recruit workers so that if two candidates for a job have the same qualifications it is the one belonging to the least represented gender who must be given preference. Equality plans will be voluntary, but enterprises with more than 250 workers will at least have to try to pact one. This measure could be compulsory after the law, which is scheduled to be approved next March, has been in force for four years. The law will include provisions against discrimination in collective agreements, to reverse the burden of proof in allegations of discrimination and in the fields of sexual harassment, maternity leave and equality of pay.