Racism claims at work up by 600%

THERE has been a 600% increase in the number of racial discrimination claims referred to the Equality Tribunal.

Quarterly figures, published yesterday, show that for the first time, discrimination claims on race grounds topped the number of gender discrimination claims.

Between January and March this year, 33 race claims were referred to the Tribunal, compared to just five for the same period last year, accounting for almost one third of all claims referred under the Employment Equality Act.