Discrimination affects one in five jobseekers of North African or Turkish origin in Belgium

Discrimination affects one in five jobseekers of North African or Turkish origin in Belgium

One in five persons of North African or Turkish origin says (s)he has been victim of discrimination while seeking employment in Belgium, according to UNIA, an independent public anti-discrimination institution in Belgium. The institution based this conclusion on the results of the second European Union Minorities and Discrimination Survey (EU MIDIS) report.

The 20% rate registered in Belgium is higher than the European average of 12%, according to data from the report, produced by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), which says the situation has worsened over the past decade.

“Being refused a job on the labour market because of one’s origins is not acceptable,” commented UNIA Director Patrick Charlier. “Having a job is not only about working, it’s also about integrating into society and contributing”.

All the poll’s respondents belonged to a minority. Some 40% said the discrimination had occurred within the past five years, mainly on the job market, UNIA noted. Mystery calls can play a major role in tackling this problem, says the institution, which feels the tests should be mentioned explicitly in anti-discrimination legislation.

Some 32% of persons polled had already been the victims of harassment because of their ethnic or migrational origins, whereas the European average is 24%, notes the Inter-Federal Centre for Equal Chances.

However, there is some positive data in the FRA’s report. For example, 73% of respondents feel strongly attached to Belgium, whereas the European average is 67%. “The feeling of attachment is a fundamental pillar for feeling like a true citizen,” said Patrick Charlier.

Finally, respondents in Belgium have a better idea of where to file complaints when they experience such situations. About 48% know they can contact UNIA when they face discrimination, whereas the European average is 38%.

To draw up the report, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (AFG) polled 25,515 persons in the 28 EU member states, including 1,339 in Belgium, These were first- and second-generation Belgians with North African and Turkish roots.


The Brussels Times


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