Sharp rise in workplace discrimination complaints
Complaints of racial discrimination at work have risen by 70% in the first three months of 2006, it emerged today.
Race claims have increased from 17% in 2004 to 21% in 2005 and now account for 33% of all allegations of unfair treatment at work.
Equality Tribunal Director Melanie Pine revealed the figures as she announced job discrimination complaints can now be made online.
The total number of claims of unfair treatment made to the Equality Tribunal last year rose by 31%.
Cases increased from 483 in 2004 to 631 in 2005, involving more than 1,600 people. The main grounds in employment claims last year were gender (22%) and race (21%).
In equal-status claims, the main grounds were disability (20%) and age (17%).
“For the first time, claims of discrimination in pensions were referred on the age and marital status grounds,” Ms Pine said.
“This has been made possible by the Pensions Act 2004, which extended protection beyond gender to all nine of the discriminatory grounds.”
The number of complaints upheld fell last year.
Three out of four allegations of discrimination at work were unsuccessful, and two out of three complaints about access to goods and services failed.
People who feel they have experienced discrimination at work can now submit complaints to the Equality Tribunal online.
This can be done through Reach Services, the Irish public service portal, reachservices.ie, or accessed through the tribunal’s website at equalitytribunal.ie.
Ms Pine also announced publication of a new series of leaflets giving information about the tribunal and what it does.
“We worked closely with NALA, the National Adult Literacy Agency, and I am particularly proud that with their help these leaflets have gained the Plain English kitemark,” she added.
