Employers’ anti-racism guide

EMPLOYERS should allow migrant workers longer holidays or unpaid leave to travel home for family weddings and other important events, a new guide to preventing racism in the workplace says.

Firms should also provide time off to celebrate national, ethnic or religious holidays and accommodate workers whose religious beliefs require them to depart from the company dress code.

The recommendations come in a handbook published as a joint venture between industry, equality campaigners and the Department of Justice to mark Anti-Racist Workplace Week which begins today.

Race-related disputes between employees and employers have increased in the last few years and now account for 92 out of 217 (42%) of all the employment equality cases currently being taken by the Equality Authority on behalf of workers. Last year, they accounted for 30%.

A recent Labour Court case which resulted in a 15,000 pay-out by Campbell Catering to a Nigerian worker highlighted the problems that can arise from language barriers after it was heard the employee did not fully understand workplace regulations or the firm’s disciplinary procedures.

The court ruled that employers have a special duty to ensure that non-national workers are fully aware of their rights and responsibilities.

Taking up that theme, the new guide, “Promoting Equality in Intercultural Workplaces”, states that employers have a responsibility to provide basic language tuition or to employ translators, and to use the first language of the migrant workers in management and union discussions and instructions.

Other steps employers are urged to take include:

Translating job vacancy advertisements into minority languages

Stating clearly in their advertisements that black and minority ethnic applicants are welcome

Displaying national flags, maps or other material that represents migrant workers

Catering for the special diets of ethnic workers in canteens

Providing a clear and responsive complaints procedure

Seeking feedback from migrant and minority workers about how they feel the company treats them.

The brainchild of the Equality Authority and

the Department of Justice, Anti-Racist Workplace Week is also backed by employers group, IBEC; the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Construction Industry Federation, Small Firms Association, Chambers of Commerce of Ireland and the Irish Farmers’ Association.

Some 20,000 firms and organisations will receive the guide and other promotional material during the week to raise awareness of the issues involved.