On Wednesday (24 April), Foysol Choudhury MSP chaired Holyrood Insight’s Anti-Racism in the Workplace Scotland Conference in Edinburgh.
The conference heard from Mr Choudhury and panels of other expert speakers on Anti-Racism, embedding Anti-Racism and Fair Work in Workplaces across Scotland, Utilising Data to Advance Anti-Racism at Work and many other important topics.
MSP Choudhury also used the Conference to address workplace racism and the ethnicity pay gap.
Mr Choudhury said: “So many people in business and public organisations across Scotland sadly feel unable to report racial abuse and discrimination, despite it being unfortunately widespread-the lived experience I saw at Wednesday’s conference showed that.
“Statistics show that ethnic minorities in Scotland face an almost 10% ethnicity pay gap-this is unacceptable.
“We must do more to create transparent, supportive reporting mechanisms which empower those affected by racial abuse and discrimination.
“We must also do more to ensure that ethnic minorities are given fair, equal pay.
“Only by doing this can we stamp out the scourge of racism from our businesses and public institutions and have true anti-racist approaches in our workplaces.”
Mr Choudhury also raised the issue with First Minister Humza Yousaf on Thursday’s First Minister’s Questions, asking what measures the Scottish Government is taking to empower people to report racial abuse in the workplace.
The First Minister says the Cabinet Secretary will write to Mr Choudhury with more details – something the MSP for Lothian Region says he looks forward to so he can keep pursuing this important matter for equality, safety and respect for all in Scotland’s workplaces.
Watch Foysol Choudhury MSP’s video of Wednesday’s Anti-Racism in the Workplace Scotland Conference here: https://youtu.be/cOdkrjcHcI8?feature=shared