At least 1-in-5 ethnic minority workers in Ireland report workplace discrimination

Young people, people with disabilities, Travellers, and Eastern European migrants are at significantly higher risk of facing employment disadvantages, according to new research.

The report, titled 'Monitoring Decent Work in Ireland' was published by the Economic and Social Research Institute and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

These groups have seen pervasive inequalities in access to decent employment with fair wages and contracts, job security and seniority.

Young people are six times more likely to be on zero-hour or temporary contracts, the report notes. Regarding security and stability of work, one third of younger workers (18-24) had a temporary contract, compared to just 6 per cent of 25-64 year olds in 2019.

“We found that younger age groups report higher rates of temporary work,” the report reads.

“However, we note that further work could usefully be conducted on the prevalence of zero-hour contracts, as well as ‘if and when’ contracts.”

The report also found that around one-third of the general workforce worked in a professional/managerial job, compared to 14 per cent of Eastern European workers.

“Occupational attainment analysis showed that young respondents, those with a disability and Eastern European migrants were all less likely to work in high-skilled jobs,” it said.

“Over a period of labour market growth (2014-2019), a striking finding is that while group differences were maintained, employment rates grew for all the groups considered. This underscores the importance of the availability of jobs and growth in the labour market.”

The employment rate for people with disabilities (41 per cent) was 32 percentage points below the national average (73 per cent), emphasising a significant gap in decent employment.

The 2016 Census data on on ethnicity and religion showed high unemployment rates among Black and Muslim respondents. That being said, unemployment rates among Irish Travellers (80 per cent) were highest of all the groups measured.

22 per cent of employees had low hourly pay, which was defined as less than €12.16 per hour in 2019.

Low hourly pay rates were much more common among young workers (60 per cent), Eastern European migrants (38 per cent) and lone parents (32 per cent).

“A number of groups have significantly higher risks on both measures; young people (aged 18-24), migrants from Eastern Europe, lone parents, and those with low educational attainment.

One-in-five ethnic minority workers reported discrimination in the workplace, which was almost three times the average rate of discrimination (7 per cent). Some 14 per cent of workers with a disability experienced workplace discrimination, as well as 11 per cent of non-Irish workers.

“Specifically, women, ethnic minority respondents, those with a disability, non-Irish nationals, LGBTQ+ people and non-Catholics all report higher rates of discrimination in the workplace.

New research from @_IHREC & @ESRIDublin holds insights for Ireland’s post-Covid work environment by looking at access to #DecentWork before the pandemic

With lead author Professor Frances McGinnity, Chief Commissioner @sineadgibney & Head of Policy & Research @iris_elliott pic.twitter.com/LkkAwuGpuG

— Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission (@_IHREC) June 2, 2021