Private employers targeted in 80% of discrimination cases

MORE than eight out of 10 claims of work-related discrimination are against private sector employers.

Figures released yesterday by the Equality Tribunal show discrimination claims against bosses soared by almost one third last year.

Almost half of the work-related cases were brought on race grounds.

Melanie Pine, director of the Equality Tribunal, said employment cases coming to the tribunal are extremely varied.

“They cover all aspects of working life from start to finish. Many of these are complex, involving several issues and more than one person,” she said.

In the nine years since the tribunal began its work, the number of cases of alleged discrimination referred annually has grown almost tenfold — from 102 in 2000 to 998 in 2008.

Complaints of age discrimination at work doubled year on year, and age, disability and gender now account for some 10% each of the tribunal’s total caseload.

The number of claims of discrimination in relation to access to goods and services has gone down.

The 16% drop in claims under equal status legislation was predominantly due to a drop in the number of claims on disability grounds, although disability still accounts for almost a quarter of cases.

Significant numbers of cases were also brought by the Traveller community (up 35%) and race grounds (up 80%). Just over half the cases (53%) were brought against public sector service providers.

Overall, figures for 2008 show:

More than 1,000 people brought claims to the tribunal.

Alleged discrimination in the workplace on age grounds doubled.

Allegations of discrimination in relation to access to goods and services on the grounds of disability almost halved

Just two cases were referred under pensions legislation compared to seven in 2007.

Over the past nine years, claims to the Tribunal have been brought by or on behalf of 22,000 people.