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<p>The prevalence of any alleged discrimination by employers because of religion or
belief is not routinely monitored by government. However, there are clear provisions
set out in the Equality Act 2010 which prevent employers from discriminating against
an employee, or a prospective employee, because of religion or belief (including any
lack of religion or belief).</p><p>The Government sponsors the Equality Advisory &
Support Service, which is a free service offering help and advice to anyone who feels
that they have suffered discrimination, and the EASS statistics for contacts to the
service relating to religion or belief discrimination within employment over the last
five years are:</p><table><tbody><tr><td>Year</td><td>Number of contacts</td><td>%
of all contacts to the service</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>150</td><td>0.83%</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>179</td><td>0.97%</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>110</td><td>0.71%</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>193</td><td>1.17%</td></tr><tr><td>2022
(to date)</td><td>59</td><td>0.84%</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The year 2021 saw an
increase in contacts, partly due to a number of people claiming that it was their
philosophical belief to object to having a vaccination against Covid. Such concerns
would be registered by the service under the ‘religion or belief’ protected characteristic
category.</p>
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