Workplace discrimination: old forms persist, new ones emerge, says ILO

Font Size

Print

Feedback

Email

Discuss

New Delhi, May 10: Even as India continues to grapple with "traditional" forms of workplace discrimination like caste, race, gender, religion, etc, newer forms of biases -- like age, genetic disposition, migration, HIV/AIDS, sexual orientation and lifestyle -- are emerging globally. In fact, 12% of those surveyed recently in India reported some form of discrimination at the workplace.

Age discrimination, at both ends of the spectrum, has been growing globally, says a new report. While younger workers are being paid less for assumed inexperience, a negative attitude is being witnessed towards hiring and retaining older workers, says "Equality at work: Tackling the Challenges". Published by the International Labour Organisation, it was released by Union labour and employment minister Oscar Fernandes here today.

Overall, "the global picture...is a mixture of major advances and failures", says the report. Women are still the largest group that faces discrimination, be it job opportunities or wages. While more women are joining the workforce now, with better salaries and even at senior levels, pay equity compared with their male counterparts is still a far cry.

Migrants comprise the other big group in the Asian region that is facing discrimination with low wages, menial jobs, exploitative jobs contracts. etc.

Regarding newer forms of discrimination, the report says that in many countries people applying for jobs are increasingly being made to disclose their genetic disposition, illnesses and disabilities. These are being used for exclusion from the hiring process, especially in the case of HIV/AIDS that's spreading like an "epidemic" in Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, primarily among the youth and women.

"Genetic screening has important implications for the workplace," the report says. Many court cases are being contested the world over on this issue. Some companies have already taken remedial action. For instance, IBM is the first big company to have revised its policy to prevent the use of genetic information to make personnel decisions, especially regarding health benefits.