In 2020 the Ombudsman for Equality received a total of 900 enquiries. Of these, 577 (64 %) were submitted in writing and 323 (36 %) were telephone enquiries.
The decrease in the number of calls was probably affected by the adoption of call-back service from March 2020 to August 2020. Normal helpline operations were resumed in September.
In 2020 the Ombudsman for Equality concluded 538 written cases in total:
- discrimination: 223 cases
- supervision and promoting of gender equality plans: 27 cases
- quotas: 7 cases
- statements issued to other authorities: 68 cases
- requests for information and enquiries concerning Equality Act: 55 cases
- administration, communications and other matters: 29 cases
- not within the Ombudsman's authority: 129 cases
Table 1. Client contacts related to discrimination 2016-2020
Year | Telephone enquiries | Enquiries in writing | Enquiries in total |
2016 | 139 | 112 | 251 |
2017 | 223 | 138 | 361 |
2018 | 279 | 274 | 550 |
2019 | 217 | 188 | 405 |
2020 | 165 | 252 | 418 |
Table 2. Client contacts concerning discrimination 2016-2020 according to case group
Case group | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
Discrimination based on pregnancy and family leaves | 63 | 87 | 143 | 132 | 142 |
General prohibition of discrimination | 47 | 57 | 102 | 57 | 80 |
Discrimination in access to and pricing of goods and services | 33 | 58 | 73 | 36 | 50 |
Discrimination in recruitments | 34 | 54 | 68 | 43 | 62 |
Pay discrimination | 24 | 42 | 58 | 54 | 29 |
Discrimination in work supervision, working conditions etc. | 14 | 15 | 46 | 34 | 16 |
Termination of employment | 21 | 30 | 21 | 26 | 7 |
Harassment in the workplaces | 10 | 11 | 13 | 4 | 10 |
Discriminatory advertising | 9 | 16 | 15 | 5 | 7 |
Discrimination at educational institutions | 7 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 14 |
Discrimination in labour market organisations | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 |