Racial Discrimination, Race Relations, Ethnic Prejudice in Equal Opportunities & Employment Laws

RACE RELATIONS, ETHNIC PREJUDICE: RACIALsuffer because of racial discrimination -who the
DICRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, SEGRAGATION,racial discrimination legislation should cover and by
VICTIMISATION, ABUSE IN EQUALwhat criteria.
OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYMENT LAWSColour, race, nationality, national origin, are pretty
It is not unlawful racial discrimination to subjecteasily definable, but not so always 'ethnicity' or
another to racial discrimination if it is positive racial'ethnic origin' or whether 'creed' would qualify) and
discrimination. One, without subjecting to racialthe courts have given guidelines on what
discrimination, can be liable for racial discriminationconstitutes an ethnic group, and the
in race relations, equal opportunities, employmentcharacteristics which qualify for classification for
laws.purpose of legal action for racial discrimination as a
Race relations laws are reasonably uniformmember of an ethnic group or of an ethnic origin
~multi-national is the authority of Article 13 EUinclude (Mandale -v- Dowell Lee, 1983) a historical
Directive regarding race equality in respect of, e.g.,and long shared consciousness of being
social security, social protection -any form ofdistinguished by it which is alive and continues to
social advantage.be in memory, a tradition which is cultural and
Not everywhere are race relations and racialincludes customs and manners socially,
discrimination laws identical, but, broadly speaking,consciousness of ancestral descent and/or
racial discrimination laws are similar, and, wheregeographical origin, commonness of language or
exists effort to better race relations and achieveliterature and/or of religion as distinct from those
racial equality, protection against racialof such other groups that are neighbouring, or
discrimination as the basis for good race relationsbeing within a larger group a minority group be it
and aspirations to racial equality, the considerationdominant or oppressed ~this, except in Northern
from which stem the race relations legislation asIreland, excluded religious prejudice as racial
part of equal opportunities law, in seeking todiscrimination, and the need to reconsider gave
reduce racial discrimination, is the same:rise to the Religion or Belief Regulations.
harmonious integration of multicultural societies canThe amended Race Relations Act and Race
only be achieved by good race relations based onRelations Regulations outlaw prejudice on ground
racial equality -by way of the elimination of racialof citizenship too and emphasize equality as
discrimination.neither to whom nor where but the principle of it
Lawful racial discrimination and unlawful racial~one equally is liable for race prejudice for aiding
discrimination and colour prejudice are regulatedor abetting a discriminator, being also unlawful
by race relations laws, e.g. the Race Relations Actinciting to or inducing race prejudice or race
1976 under which was set up and exists theharassment).
Commission for Racial Equality (CRE -the RaceIf one is directly in relation to, solely on the
Relations Board) to assist ethnic minorities andground of, national or ethnic, racial or colour,
help end racial discrimination and colour prejudicedifferences is subjected to racial discrimination,
by promoting racial equality -now within and partDirect Racial Discrimination that is called in law
of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)~and since the party alleged to have subjected to
which deals with also other equality issues underthe ethnic or race or colour prejudice is not likely
equal opportunities legislation.to admit to disregard for the Race Relations Act
Racial discrimination related equality generally areby the alleged unlawful racial discrimination and the
promoted in race relations by theburden is on the party who alleges racial
non-discrimination policy expressing willingness indiscrimination to prove it, the 'but for' test is used
the interests of good race relations and intentionby the courts in lawsuits for racial discrimination
to refrain from such discriminatory practices asbefore them in determining on a balance of
would obstruct efforts to better race relationsprobabilities whether one has been the subject of
and racial equality, and, therefore, in furtheranceracial discrimination in law -this test is: would not
of the desired race relations and aspired racialthe party alleging to have been subjected to racial
equality, not only is racial discrimination prohibiteddiscrimination under the Race Relations Act not
under the race relations legislation but the Racehave been treated so but for the racial
Relations (Amendment) Act 2003 and Racedifference? (If would still have been treated so it
Relations (Amendment) Regulations 2003 withis not racial discrimination -if not, it is unlawful racial
two Orders in 2004 require public bodies todiscrimination.)
promote and other bodies to treat as part of theBut, racial discrimination often takes place in the
race relations code to practice race equalityform of what is called in law Indirect Racial
refraining from less favourable treatment byDiscrimination -by imposing a requirement which
ethnic or colour prejudice or any other form ofcannot reasonably be justified and which only
race discrimination or racist harassment or racismmembers of a particular e.g. ethnic or colour or
based abuse.racial group are unable to comply with ~for
Race relations laws exist not mainly to promoteexample, refusal of employment to a Sikh on the
racial equality by making racial discrimination aground of a prohibition to wear a beard or long
criminal offence, but to cater for failure to complyhair, which effectively barred from consideration
with the requirements of the Race Relations Actall job applicants who were Sikhs and whose
by dealing as a civil matter with disregard forreligious beliefs include the wearing of a beard or
good race relations and racial equality by way oflong hair was held to be indirect racial
entitling parties subjected to racial discrimination todiscrimination in Britain (Panesaar -v- Nestle &
seek through the courts or tribunals dealing withCo. Ltd. 1980), and uniform considerations made
race relations proportionate remedies.lawful forbidding Islamic dress (Denbigh High School
Remedies for racial discrimination are not only for-v- Begun 2006).
racial discrimination or colour prejudice inThe difference between indirect discrimination and
employment, nor for ethnic discrimination or racedirect discrimination, therefore, is simply that in
prejudice against racial or ethnic groups of peopledirect racial discrimination it suffices under the
-remedies for racial discrimination exist equally e.g.Race Relations Act to show less favourable
for racial discrimination by a shop or a bar thattreatment on racial grounds of the person alleging
subjects the individual customer (of any race orrace prejudice, whereas in indirect racial
colour, including white) to less favourablediscrimination it must be shown as being less
treatment or by a public body or by a servicefavourable treatment on racial grounds of a group
industry that similarly subjects a customer toof persons who in light of the guidelines the Race
racial discrimination.Relations Act applies to and that the person
Indeed, also any individual who is not claiming forcomplaining of racial discrimination belongs to that
racial discrimination and is not affected by anygroup of persons.
colour prejudice or ethnic prejudice or any otherWhile also Racial Discrimination Victimization (e.g.
kind of racial discrimination or racist harassmentdiscriminating by way of employer retaliation and
-nor even falls within a class under the Racefiring a worker or e.g. overlooking a worker for a
Relations Act who are protected from racialpay increase, or promotion) is unlawful prejudice
discrimination, has the right in racial discriminationunder the Race Relations Act, including for the
legislation in the interests of racial equality andreason that one is suspected that one might
good race relations to inform of any racecomplain of racial discrimination) in practice one
prejudice the Commission for Racial Equality oralleging victimization arising from race prejudice
Equal Opportunities Commission -who if givenmay be expected in most legal action, especially in
reasonable evidence that a business practicesmatters of employment, to have and to produce
race discrimination has a duty under the Raceevidence of having in writing to, e.g., one's
Relations Act to investigate the allegedemployer, complained of racial discrimination
discriminatory practice to end any racial prejudice-although not necessarily of racial discrimination
as well as to prevent the repetition of that racevictimisation itself (an employee’s serving on
prejudice ~which it does by seeking to ensure athe employer at least later a Racial Discrimination
non-discrimination policy based race relations codeQuestionnaire might also help).
of practice by that business and if not issues aAction for racial discrimination normally lie to
race equality Non-discrimination Notice againstCounty Courts under the Race Relation Act in the
re-occurrence of racial prejudice (that thatnormal ways of any civil action; but in matters to
business will be shut down if it refuses to respectdo with race prejudice in employment and race
racial equality and race relations laws -if racialequality laws every employer is required to have
discrimination does not cease).a formal and well publicised non-discrimination
Remedies for racial discrimination exist also forpolicy about racial discrimination and to do so in
such situations in which one is subjected to racialthe form of a formal written equal opportunities
prejudice by another who is not liable in racestatement -covering also race relations and racial
relations law and cannot be subjected to racediscrimination issues, and action for racial
equality legislation because is acting for someonediscrimination is in Employment Tribunals ~in either
else who neither authorised it nor knew of thatkind of action if the alleged racial discrimination
racial prejudice and did not personally breach theinvolves the teaching profession or an educational
Race Relations Act or the race relations codeestablishment also the Department of Education it
~liability can also be vicarious under the Raceis expected to inform of that racial discrimination.
Relations Act and then the latter bears vicariousIn Britain while in matters of race equality in
race discrimination liability for the former'semployment one at no cost may complain of
disregard for racial equality for any loss or injuryracial discrimination in recruitment or selection or
suffered as a result of race discrimination.vocational training, or of racial discrimination in the
Racial discrimination in law is not only about theworkplace, to such tribunals, one may be barred
racist who claiming cultural or colour or national orfrom pursuing a race prejudice lawsuit, or may
ethnic supremacy with disregard for race relationsface the other party's (and possibly other)
advocates racism and racial hatred against ethniclegitimate and probably untaxed costs, if one
refugees or immigrants not of same race incitingpursues a racial discrimination case which is
prejudice for colour or religion or belief.considered to be misconceived -i.e. has no
Racial Discrimination Definitions when are lookedprospect of success (although this might revert in
at, basically racial discrimination as prohibited bythe future to frivolity or vexation in the course
the Race Relations Act is anyone's in any situationthe legal proceedings).
and in any way treating one less favourably thanLawful Racial Discrimination is possible -racial
another on grounds of, e.g., one's race or colourequality laws do allow for it in, e.g., employment
-because of race prejudice or colour prejudice…and race relations.
But racial discrimination as covered by the RaceSometimes lawfully as Positive Racial
Relations Act is not limited to racial discriminationDiscrimination may be practised ethnic or colour or
on the ground of one's race or in the form ofrace prejudice in promoting race equality and in
colour prejudice ~it is equally unlawful racialthe interests good race relations, e.g., by
discrimination if the racial discrimination is onemployers, in order to keep a reasonable racial
grounds of nationality or national or ethnic originbalance, by intentional racial discrimination
(indeed while race equality legislation include in thespecifically recruiting from a particular colour or
Race Relations Act mainly racial discriminationfrom a particular racial or ethnic background alone
related harassment -i.e. colour prejudice based-to do so genuinely for that reason is legal racial
harassment or race prejudice based harassmentprejudice and such positive discrimination is not
or harassment in ethnic relations [now alsounlawful racial discrimination.
harassment because of nationality or citizenshipThis is because employers are expected by the
prejudice], such statutory instruments as the EERace Relations Act as a matter of
(Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 also extendnon-discrimination policy to help promote racial
less favourable treatment detriment to cover e.g.equality by regular racial monitoring at the
religious prejudice harassment or beliefworkplace to ensure that they have a reasonable
discrimination based harassment -also on suchnumber of e.g. black or Indian employees -indeed
grounds making unlawful bullying or abuse e.g.sometimes if sued for racial discrimination they
derogatory remarks affecting respectability).may be asked to show that ~and that is
Racial Harassment can be a criminal offence -alsosometimes done by way of positive racial
race prejudice which is not harassment can bediscrimination in the recruitment of their
harassment if persistent; and racial discriminationworkforce.
includes the violation of one's dignity under theOne may not claim for unlawful racial
Race Relations Act -including by way ofdiscrimination in the case of such employment as
name-calling, as well as the creation of anmay be reasonably classed as personal services
environment which is hostile or degrading or-in cases of such employment it is not illegal to
offensive to one or in which one suffersexercise racial or religious prejudice and, e.g., if a
intimidation ~also after the relationship has endedJewish family advertise specifically for a Jewish
and also if it humiliates affecting only self-respectemployee as nanny and would not do a non-Jew
(taking into account in race equality lawsuitsfor employment as such for their children that is
particularly also one's own perception of those asnot unlawful racial discrimination under the Race
evidence of race prejudice).Relations Act but perfectly lawful racial
Additionally, racial discrimination does not have todiscrimination.
be direct racial discrimination, and one can be liableNor is it unlawful racial discrimination where
as much as for direct racial discrimination also foremployment involves a requirement that one
indirect racial discrimination -although under themust be of a specific race and that requirement is
Race Relations Act indirect discrimination is morea genuine occupational qualification -such as in
difficult than direct discrimination to prove in racialrelation to employing only black actors to play,
discrimination lawsuits.e.g., in Shakespeare's play 'Othello' the role of the
But what is racial discrimination has essentially toblack character called so.
do with who can be subjected to racialAnd, of course, Racial Discrimination Segregation it
discrimination -who can complain of racialwould not be classed as if, e.g., one who often
prejudice, who qualify under the Race Relationsprides himself "I am a African" is separated from
Act to claim for racial discrimination.a disrupting colleague who needles "He don't speak
It became necessary to define who fell into theproper English.
category that under the Race Relations Act can