A new government white paper put forward by the equalities minister Harriet Harman and aimed at combating discrimination within the workplace has been largely welcomed by workers' groups.

Under the mooted legislation, all employers within the public sector will be required to report what action they are taking to provide equal opportunities for older workers and those from ethnic minorities as well as to address the existing gender pay gap.

According to Ms Harman, the new initiative will replace a "thicket of legislation" covering all aspects of potential discrimination, including sexual orientation and belief, though insurance companies will still be permitted to cite actuarial risk in charging older workers higher premiums.

Just as schools are required to post exam results, so too should businesses make public how they are dealing with "key equality issues", she argued.

However, the paper stops short of bringing such requirements into place in the private sector, thereby not affecting around 70 percent of firms, though they will be encouraged to reveal what progress they are making on fighting inequality.

While the deputy prime minister also stated that the reforms could be brought into effect within the private sector in the next five years, some critics have argued that such delays have gone on for too long.

Michael Lake, director general of Help the Aged, said: "Legislation must be enacted without delay so older people can be on a truly equal footing as soon as possible."