Don't Know If You Are Being Discriminated Against?

In the UK, it is illegal to hire foreigners with noaccent for fear of committing a crime. The UK
right to work there or to handle them incorrectlylaw authorizes the request of documents that
once they arrive. According to section 8 of theprove that a person has the right to work in the
Asylum and Immigration Act of 1996, it is acountry, however, it is against the law to ask for
criminal offense to give employment to someonethese documents only from applicants the
who is 16 or over and is subject to immigrationemployer thinks could be foreign.
control, unless he or she is entitled to work in theIn 2001, the Government issued a Code of
UK. Fines for this type of crime can cost up toPractice for employers on the evasion of race
£5,000 per convicted offense.discrimination during recruitment while, at the
Employers can defend themselves from thesame time looking to minimize illegal workers. This
charges if they do a search of the person'scode's recommendations in regards to racial
eligibility to work before actually hiring the individualdiscrimination are:
in question. For this, the employer is required to- The employer must establish clear written
get a copy of some of the person's documents.recruitment and selection procedures based on
The defense will be valid if it can't be proved thatequal and fair treatment for every person, and
the employer knew the person was notinform all the personnel about these.
authorized to work in the United Kingdom when- The employer should not make assumptions
they hired him or her.about a person's condition based on color, race,
The searches can be easily included in thenationality, ethnic origin, or the time he or she has
recruiting process; however, employers have tobeen in the United Kingdom.
be very careful, because these checks may- The employer has to treat everyone in the
break the Race Relations Act of 1976 if they aresame manner at each stage throughout the
used in a way that discriminates by racial motives.recruitment process. It should ask all the
The race legislation was introduced to protectapplicants for the same documents.
people against discrimination. This law considers- The employer must never assume that the
racial discrimination as discrimination by color, race,inability to present the documents requested
nationality, or ethnic or national origins.means the person is an illegal worker. The
Discrimination can happen in two ways:applicant has to be directed towards the Citizen's
- Directly, where the employer treats theAdvice Bureau to find help.
employee differently, in a negative way, due to- The employer should control the results from
race.recruiting and selection based on the ethnicity of
- Indirectly, where the employer asks employeesthe applicants.
to comply with what seems a neutral raceThe best way to comply with immigration UK law
stipulation, criterion, or practice that is really moreas well as with the Race Act is to make it a
difficult for individuals of certain races.regular practice to ask for the appropriate
In terms of immigration, discrimination happensdocumentation from all candidates, no matter
during recruiting. An employer may rejecttheir nationality, color, or accent.
someone who looks different or speaks with an