Ethnicity Information
Legislation has been in place for over 25 years to protect ethnic minorities from
discrimination in the workplace, but the impact it has had is very much open for
debate.
The Race Relations Act (1976) and the Race Relations Amendment Act (2000)
makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee (either full
or part-time) in the UK on the grounds of race, colour, nationality and ethnic or
national origins.
- People of every background, race, colour and nationality are protected.
- You are also protected where the discrimination refers to the race, colour or ethnic
origin of someone else.
- You are protected in all aspects of employment - from recruitment and promotion
to dismissal and redundancy.
Ethnic Discrimination in the Workplace
There are two types of discrimination, direct and indirect. Direct occurs when an
employer treats one race less favourably than another. Indirect happens when an
employee applies a condition or requirement to employees but one race is less able
to comply, or the condition is not justified on racial grounds.
Facts and Figures
7.9 % of the UK population is from an ethnic minority (4.6 million). (Office of
National Statistics 2001 - 02)
A recent TUC report, Black and Underpaid, highlighted the pay gap and reported that
on average black men earn £97 per week less than white men (The Independent 30/10/03).
Only one % of senior managers employed by the UK's top 100 companies are drawn from
ethnic minorities: the 'snowy peak syndrome'. (Runnymede Trust, Commission for Racial
Equality)
Nearly a third of public bodies have failed to fulfill race equality duties imposed
on them by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. Recent research by the Commission
for Racial Equality (CRE) shows that 30 % of public authorities have failed to set
targets for improving race equality (The Independent 30/10/03).
Business Case for Diversity
The spending power of ethnic minority communities
in the UK alone has been estimated at more than £32 billion each year (British Satellite
News 21/01/04).
- Corporate diversity promotes a better understanding of the marketplace.
- Diversity increases creativity and innovation.
- Diversity produces more effective problem solving. Variety of perspectives lead
decision makers to evaluate more alternatives.
- Diversity promotes more effective global relationships - an imperative given the
trend of globalisation.
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