London, Aug 24: The Ford Motor Company in Britain has been ordered to improve its employment policies towards Indians and black workers or face a full investigation by the London-based Commission for Racial Equality (CRE).The CRE's warning follows unrest at Ford's Dagenham plant outside London where there have been complaints of "institutional racism" linked to bullying, harassment and delays in dealing with grievances.Last year, an Indian worker, Sukjit Parma, won his employment tribunal hearing against Ford after he complained that he had been confronted with Ku Klux Klan (a white supremacist group) graffiti and death threats by two white foremen. Soon afterwards, Ford's US operations' head, Jack Nasser, who was visiting Britain, apologised on behalf of the company for the "shameful" events. The CRE has given Ford until October 13 to produce an action plan to combat racism that ensures ethnic minority employees are treated fairly and are able to progress in the company.
The action plan should show a clear and verifiable change in the company's methods in dealing with discrimination. If Ford fails to comply, the CRE says it will launch a formal inquiry with the right to force changes.Earlier this week, the United Nations attacked the British government's record on race relations and expressed "deep concern" over the number of racist attacks in the country.
Last month, Britain's Trade Union Congress (TUC) said Asian and Black workers in the country were being subjected to a shocking level of verbal, physical and racist abuse and the problem was worse than it had been a decade ago.
-- India Abroad News Service
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