So much for equality?....?

Question

These days, you can't discriminate a person in employment over their sex, colour, age, sexuality or religion any more (though I've noticed that the previously downtrodden people who the bills were supposed to help seem to find loopholes so that they can get away with not employing straight, white males). Recently, my next door neighbour applied for a building job but was informed the employer was only employing Poles and ages ago, somebody on the JobClub I was on applied for a job on Brittany Ferries, only to be informed that they only employed the French. With all this so-called equality around, how come people can still get away with national discrimination? Since we are a Germanic people and the French are Gallic and the Poles are Slavic, couldn't that come under the Race Equality Act?

A couple of points. The Bretons are in fact Celtic, like the Cornish and the Welsh (in fact, truer Britons than the English!). I am also not slagging the Poles, more the exploitative employers. If I were to fall into that trap of laying the blame on certain immigrants for certain things, I'd be falling into the hands of the vile BNP.

Answer 1

Discrimination and positive discrimination are for me two aspects of the same thing. People should not be denied or given jobs because they are or are not Brits, Poles, French, etc. If a country wants to do better, it should give the jobs to those, who are best fitted for them.

Answer 2

I think the meaning of the word equality should be revised.

At the moment it seems to mean treating someone differently because of their age / race / gender / sexuality and that is in my opinion .wrong. Surely it would be fairer to ensure the same rules apply to all. The person who can do the job best is the one who gets it, not the one who ticks a box. If the job requires a uniform, all those doing the job agree to wear it, if someone disagrees with the rules of the job, they don't apply for it.

Everyone deserves respect, irrespective of age / race / gender / sexuality and that includes straight white males.

Answer 3

i agree with you. where my mum works is a children's charity and their boss is currently disregarding any female applicants as her figures are negative for male employees. i think it should go on if they can do the job rather than who they are/what they look like. I'm all for equality but it has to be equal to everyone, at the moment it seems to be so directed on helping some that the others get left out. perhaps all interviews for jobs should be done via a computer or paper so that the employer does not see / hear the person and does not give an opinion on that alone

Answer 4

It points to the larger question of the role of nationhood in the EU and the grand vision of "Europe." (not the continent, but the Idea)
There's been a lot of rushing forward without answering the seemingly theoretical but ultimately necessary question of what a "nation" is within the context of the EU ideal. True union would require that the discrimination you cite be illegalised, but if we're going to maintain national identities (and thereby allow such discrimination) other national prerogatives should be respected moreso than they are today.

Answer 5

Race Equality Act is incorporated within the Race Relations Act.
Under the Race Relations Act, it is unlawful to discriminate against anyone on grounds of race, colour, nationality (including citizenship), or ethnic or national origin. All racial groups are protected from discrimination.
The Race Relations Act generally applies to the fields of employment, planning, housing, the exercise of public functions (both by public authorities and also private bodies exercising public functions, for example, privately-run prisons), the provision of goods, facilities and services, education, and education.
Public authorities
The Race Relations Act also applies to public authorities in several ways:
As employers;
In carrying out any of its functions, it is is unlawful for a public authority to do an act which constitutes discrimination;
many public authorities have a general statutory duty, in carrying out their functions, to consider the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between people of different racial groups; and
most public authorities bound by the general statutory duty are also bound by specific duties, such as publishing a race equality scheme or policy setting out how they will meet the general duty.
The duty to promote race equality

Answer 6

No.....If you are none European IE: English, you don't and wont stand a chance,against a Polishman, why is easy, he uses the EU for his advantage{good on them i say}. If you are up against a Frenchman, then you will never win,he will keep bleating and blockade the ports to get what he wants or go on strike.
If you are white and {god loves ya} English not British, this is the rest of the worlds way at getting back at you.
So welcome to the real equality of the world and UK.

Answer 7

Positive discrimination - they can discriminate in favour of so-called minorities and that is fine.
Many companies actively recruit for non-British people and disabled people as they have to fill 'quotas' of these groups. Never mind if they can do the job.

Answer 8

You can discriminate against anyone if you lie about the reason they didn't get the job. Don't like black people? Tell them they haven't enough experience. Don't like older people? Advertise for a "junior" position. There are endless ways to get around discrimination laws.

Answer 9

i agree so much so, i also feel if we are not discriminating then all over 18s should have the same minimum wage how can we not have age discrimination but have 2 different wages for adults.

Answer 10

YES I believe it could, makes me mad when our country does not back employing nationals first...I have no objection to foreigners in putting their knowledge, ability & skills to good use for us BUT British nationals should be given first opportunity for the British jobs...Do you agree ?