Workplace discrimination cases up by 20%, figures reveal

WORKPLACE discrimination cases brought before the Equality Tribunal increased by 20% last year, figures have revealed.

This hike included significant jumps in the number of race-related cases and gender-related complaints.

According to the Equality Tribunal's 2003 Annual Report published yesterday, among the employment equality complaints were:

107 gender-related cases in 2003, compared to 69 in 2002 a rise of 55%.

85 race discrimination cases in 2003, compared to 43 in 2002 a jump of 98%.

36 disability-related cases in 2003, compared to 44 in 2002 a drop of 18%.

32 age-related cases in 2003, compared to 39 in 2002 a fall of 18%.

However, the report showed that total complaints of alleged discrimination fell from 1,289 in 2002 to 1,078 in 2003.

This was due to a 28% drop in equal status cases, from 989 in 2002 to 717 in 2003.

While employment equality cases cover work-related discrimination, equal status cases concern equal access to goods and services.

Melanie Pine, director of the Equality Tribunal, said this drop was due to changes in the law in 2003 which moved discrimination cases involving licensed premises from the tribunal to the district court.

As a result, the number of equal status cases taken by Travellers fell dramatically from 741 in 2002 to 354 in 2003.

However, in relation to other equal status cases there was:

A 65% rise in the number of race-related cases, from 26 in 2002 to 43 in 2003.

A 26% rise in disability-related cases, from 50 to 63.

A 28% drop in age-related cases, from 29 to 21.

Ms Pine said the overall drop in equal status cases might not continue.

"I would stress that the drop may be temporary. There was a 50% increase in the first three months of this year in the number of equal status cases which are not about licensed premises and I would expect this upward trend to continue as awareness grows."

She pointed out there were legislative developments in the area of pensions which could further increase its load.

Launching the report, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said the fact that the number of employment cases had risen highlighted the need for the tribunal.

"It is interesting to note that the incidence of general claims to the tribunal has risen and that there is a pattern of discrimination in the workplace. The tribunal's function is very necessary to counteract it."

Mr McDowell rejected claims he should rename the Equality Tribunal given his recent controversial comments highlighting the positive role of inequality.

"I know the limits of equality and the benefits of equality," he said.

Tribunal workload

The Equality Tribunal dealt with 1,708 complaints of alleged discrimination in 2003, compared to 1,289 in 2002.

There were 717 equal status complaints in 2003, compared to 989 in 2002.

There were 361 complaints on employment equality grounds in 2003, compared to 300 in 2002.

Cases referred to mediation rose from 62 in 2002 to 105 in 2003.