I recently came across an interesting article on http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/sep/06/race-gender-ethnic-minorities, in which Iqbal Wahhab talks about the problematic position of the unemployed minorities in the UK and the fact that, despite his hard work, still no steps are being taken to help them.
Since 2006, Iqbal Wahhab is chairing an ethnic minority advisory group to inform ministers about the best ways to reduce the ethnic minority employment rate. Sad to say, in all this time and in spite of several long unproductive meetings, nothing has changed. In fact, the unemployment rates of minority groups haven’t changed in twenty years and we all know that the current recession definitely won’t make things better. But still, ministers can’t be convinced to take a single step in the right direction to assure equal treatment in the job market.
Nevertheless, Wahhab won’t throw in the towel. The government should start with itself, he states. More precisely, the procurements of the government departments. Suppliers should be asked for details of the diversity of their workforces. If certain ethnic groups are under-represented, the companies have to take steps and come up with an action plan if they still want to win a contract. This approach has proven very effective in the US and Northern Ireland.
Annelies Delaere
Since 2006, Iqbal Wahhab is chairing an ethnic minority advisory group to inform ministers about the best ways to reduce the ethnic minority employment rate. Sad to say, in all this time and in spite of several long unproductive meetings, nothing has changed. In fact, the unemployment rates of minority groups haven’t changed in twenty years and we all know that the current recession definitely won’t make things better. But still, ministers can’t be convinced to take a single step in the right direction to assure equal treatment in the job market.
Nevertheless, Wahhab won’t throw in the towel. The government should start with itself, he states. More precisely, the procurements of the government departments. Suppliers should be asked for details of the diversity of their workforces. If certain ethnic groups are under-represented, the companies have to take steps and come up with an action plan if they still want to win a contract. This approach has proven very effective in the US and Northern Ireland.
Annelies Delaere
I agree that governments should change their course. But demanding that every company has at least X migrants employed... I wonder if the population wouldn't feel threatened by that measure? I just think it's a bit strange to solve racial discrimination with a discriminating measure (against your own population). Because that is what you are doing if you oblige companies to hire more migrants, you're creating more jobs for migrants but less for everybody else. I agree that we should stimulate governments but I think there are better ways to do that.
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