Kevin Rowan column
Sep 26 2005 By Kevin Rowan, The Journal
Segregation may begin at school, but it becomes race discrimination at work.
The keynote speech made in Manchester last week by Trevor Phillips, chair of the Commission for Race Equality, was trailed all week and promoted as a shocking exposure of the UK's divided community. The assertion that our schools are populated by children of different ethnic backgrounds that don't mix; that some of our universities, in particular the more elite ones, are dominated by white middle class students; that our cities are heading toward `ghettos' of poor black communities, was all meant to be astounding.
Scary, it is; surprising, it is not.
Mr Phillips suggested that there is a different scenario in the workplace, that it is on leaving the workplace and returning home that we see the segregation occurring. It is, in fact, a long way from the truth.
To suggest that workplaces are somehow a bastion of integrated, equal community, with opportunity and success for all, irrespective of gender, race or physical ability, implies a Utopia that is as far from reality as anyone can get.
Firstly, ethnic minority workers are much more likely to be excluded from the labour market than white workers. The employment rate for ethnic minority workers stands at less than 60%, compared to around 75% for the population as a whole.
Secondly, non-white workers are much more likely to be occupied in lower skilled, lower qualified and lower paid menial work compared to white workers. There are much fewer professionals pro rata among ethnic minority workers compared to white workers. Labour market segregation is still stark and damaging in the UK economy.
TUC research also shows that in all sectors ethnic minority workers are less likely to be participating in training offered by employers.
It is no wonder then that this segregation and discrimination in the workplace leads to separation in the wider community. A TUC report in August showed that 60% of Bangladeshis and Pakistanis are poor, compared to 20% of whites.
Trevor Phillips is right though, when he suggests that much stronger equality and diversity goals are vital if we are going to prevent Britain becoming as divided, and discriminatory as the US.
While schools, universities and our towns have a role to play, equality of opportunity at work is the key. An equal chance of work and an equal chance to progress in work is a challenge we must address if we wish to see real integration in society.
