Racial discrimination cases in workplace triple in three years

THE number of discrimination cases in the workplace filed on race grounds has tripled over the past three years, according to the Equality Authority.

Cases brought under the Employment Equality Act have increased from 8% of all cases in 2000 to 27% of the organisation’s casework.

Although the rise is partly explained by a growing awareness among migrant workers of their rights, the Equality Authority’s chief executive, Niall Crowley said it was also evidence of the fact that racial problems had become a serious issue in the workplace.

Addressing a conference in Dublin yesterday as part of Anti-Racist Workplace Week, Mr Crowley said race was now the second largest grounds for complaint after gender in terms of employment equality.

He claimed many migrant workers, especially those engaged in manual labour, were vulnerable to discrimination on a number of issues, including equal pay and conditions.

The Equality Authority said research indicated that migrant workers engaged in the meat and agricultural sectors and in domestic employment were particularly at risk of exploitation.

Mr Crowley said one of the major issues for migrant workers was access to information at the recruitment stage.

“Many people reported receiving minimal or no information in relation to their future workplace, Irish society, and any rights or obligations they might have,” Mr Crowley said.

Other concerns highlighted in a recent study were the charging of fees to migrants and restrictions on travel and labour rights of other family members. The chairperson of the Know Racism campaign, Joe McDonagh, welcomed the review of the work permit and visa system announced recently by the Tánaiste, Mary Harney.

“We need a process which will allow migrant workers greater control over their own work permit where they are not dependent on one employer to stay in the country,” he said.

Tayra (sic) McKee, 25, originally from Brazil but now living in Newcastle, Co Down, told of her difficulties finding work since moving to the North with her Irish-born husband last February.

Ms McKee said she had failed to find employment over a four-month period, despite applying for over 50 jobs, including all types of work from secretarial duties to her own profession as a qualified psychologist.

“I don’t like the word racism but I certainly feel there has been a certain prejudice against me, even though I think it’s more against my nationality than colour,” she said. “I believe employers were always prepared to give a job to someone from Northern Ireland before me.”

Ms McKee is now working with the South Tyrone Empowerment Programme where she works in close liaises with groups of migrant Portuguese workers in Dungannon.

“Some of them have had terrible experiences with regular attacks on their homes,” she said.

But Ms McKee said she was uncertain if the incidents could be classified as race-related because they seemed to be caused by Protestants who primarily viewed the Portuguese as Catholics.