For Black people, Roma, Muslims, migrants from non-EU countries, and women with a minority or migrant background living in Europe, discrimination is a major obstacle both when looking for a job and when in employment. This is the conclusion of ENAR’s 2012/13 Shadow Report on racism and discrimination in employment in Europe, released ahead of International Day Against Racial Discrimination.
The Malta specific report, drafted by The People for Change Foundation, highlights that although Malta has strong anti-discriminatory laws, ethnic minorities, and especially migrant workers continue to face discrimination both in accessing employment and within employment. The report finds that Malta has a strong equality law framework that prohibits direct and indirect discrimination, as well as harassment and victimisation. Yet ethnic minority and specifically migrant workers continue to face discrimination both in accessing employment and within employment.
Difficulties in accessing employment relate to, amongst other things, the stereotyping of migrant workers, difficulties in acquiring the employment licences, the nature of the labour market and lack of recognition of qualifications. Within employment, discrimination includes failure to pay adequate wages and benefits, failure to abide by health and safety regulations, as well as a concentration of migrant workers in the informal economy. There is no evidence that the situation has improved over the reporting period. On the contrary it appears that many of the problems and concerns raised in previous reports remain pertinent.
A representative of the Foundation said: “It is unfortunate to see that many of the obstacles faced, and the manifestations of discrimination have remained the same over the years. This reflects the need for strong and targeted action to combat racism and discrimination in the labour market and beyond. Malta has made some steps in this regard, but much more still needs to be done. The law alone is not enough.’
The report emphasises that despite the extent of racial discrimination the number of reported cases remains minimal, a situation it attributes to lack of awareness of available rights and remedies and obstacles to accessing these rights and remedies.
The report provides several recommendations, addressed primarily towards the Maltese authorities. These include, amongst other things, to update, adopt and implement, without delay, the National Action Plan Against Racism and Xenophobia commissioned by NCPE and to ensure that the NCPE is, and appears to be, independent and impartial so that cases of racial discrimination are efficiently and effectively addressed.
Other suggestions include: developing initiatives to measure equality, developing a clearer understanding of discrimination with a view of informing policy developments and awareness raising, creating an education and employment strategy for migrants, and to promote further research in the area of migrant labour and entrepreneurship.
The report also calls on Trade Unions and Civil Society Organisations to work together to develop effective strategies for the inclusion of minorities in the labour market, as well as to raise awareness that equality at work is not just a matter of preventing discrimination from taking place but also about ensuring the workplace caters for the needs of an increasingly diverse workforce.
