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Last updated: 08 December 2009
Government launches new strategy to remove the barriers to employment success for ethnic minorities (21/3/2003) Prime Minister, Tony Blair, today welcomed publication of a new Government strategy that aims to ensure that British ethnic minority groups no longer face unfair barriers to achievement in the labour market.
The 'Ethnic Minorities and the Labour Market' report, by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, sets out an action plan to open pathways of achievement - so that more ethnic minorities can move from high-attainment in the classroom to success in the workplace.
Under the plan, there will be action to reduce achievement gaps in schools between ethnic groups, tailored programmes to connect the jobless with work, and initiatives to encourage more businesses to become good equal opportunities employers.
The report sets out a fresh approach which goes beyond traditional anti-discrimination policies to address the many barriers that can get in the way of success in jobs and careers.
And it makes plain that different ethnic minority communities face different barriers to success in the labour market - and that Government policies must be finely-tuned in response.
Tony Blair said:
'Britain has become a much more ethnically-diverse country. This has brought widespread benefits to the nation's culture, economy and society.
'Some ethnic minority groups have done well in the education system and in the labour market. But, too many members of ethnic minority communities are still being left behind. And even those individuals who achieve academic success do not necessarily reap the rewards in the workplace that their qualifications merit.
'We need a much more fine-grained approach with interventions tailored to meeting the different needs of particular groups. This report contains such a package of fresh and practical measures, all of which will be implemented immediately as government policy.
The project's Sponsor Minister is Minister for Social Exclusion and Equality, Barbara Roche. She said:
'This report highlights the importance of economic integration to achieving social and civic integration. It is an important step forward in how government addresses this issue.
'It clearly identifies that the experiences of different ethnic minority groups now vary widely - differing by geography, by gender, by generation and by socio-economic circumstances. Government cannot apply the same 'one size fits all' policies across the board.
'This report sets out a clear strategy, backed up by practical measures, to help remove barriers to success in the workplace, while also addressing issues of social exclusion and poverty that can also hold back ethnic minority communities.'
The report's main recommendations for action include:
Introducing new incentives for schools to address gaps between ethnic groups, while redirecting existing resources to genuine need, and promoting greater take-up of best practice. This includes:
School inspections to report on persisting educational attainment gaps between ethnic groups in the summary report to parents.
Teachers and schools to encourage greater parental engagement.
Schools to raise expectations of achievement through actions such as recognising and rewarding achievement, effective take-up of best practice, mentoring schemes and homework clubs.
Changing education funding to enable the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant to focus on low attainment levels, by allocating resources on the basis of need rather than on a head-count basis; and to ensure more flexible funding systems to tackle high pupil turnover levels in some areas.
Making crucial adjustments to existing jobs and training programmes to get better employment outcomes, and connecting people more effectively to the world of work via childcare, transport and housing. This includes:
Tailoring employment programmes to ensure that all groups benefit from existing Welfare to Work provision.
Offering poorly-informed firms concrete support to become good equal opportunities employers; addressing unfair practices by discriminatory employers; and encouraging more public bodies to take account of race equality in public procurement contracts.
This includes:
The Government will set up a Task Force to bring together Ministers, Government officials and key external stakeholders - chaired by the Minister for Work - to help departments work in more co-ordinated ways to deliver improved labour market outcomes for ethnic minorities.
This Task Force will issue annual reports on progress, with a full review after three years. It will report to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who will be accountable to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Productivity and Competitiveness.
Cabinet ministers have welcomed the report's conclusions. They say that close cross-departmental working will be critical to achieving the report's vision: that in ten years' time British ethnic minority groups should no longer face disproportionate barriers to accessing and realising opportunities for achievement in the labour market.
'The employment rate for ethnic minorities in the UK is 58% compared to 75% for the population as a whole. We must rise to the challenge of narrowing this gap and address the very different needs of specific ethnic minority groups across the country.
'We must do more to bring down the barriers to finding work that many face, building on our successful employment programmes to realise the potential of everyone. Together with the Minister for Work, Nick Brown, I am pleased to be taking this area of work forward across Government.'
'A successful, high performing workplace recognises the value of tackling discrimination so that the widest pool of talent can be harnessed.
'I am fully committed to taking forward the recommendations in the report as breaking down the barriers that hold back ethnic minorities in the workplace can only improve an organisation's performance and in turn boost the economy as a whole.'
'I welcome this report as driving up standards remain at the heart of the Government's education policies, and a vital part of this is removing the barriers to learning for all pupils, regardless of their cultural or ethnic background.
'Only by narrowing attainment gaps for ethnic minority pupils in primary and secondary schools can we truly widen access for all to higher education, success in the workplace and confident engagement in today's culturally-rich and diverse society.'
'I welcome this report and the robust strategy for future government action. The Home Office looks forward to working with other Government departments, the CRE and industry to reduce inequality and discrimination in the workplace.
'As I pointed out in a speech last year, the report shows that people from ethnic minorities are still prevented from achieving the level of success that their skills and qualifications merit. Implementing the recommendations of this report will go a long way towards addressing the barriers that have caused this situation to persist.'
The report's conclusions and Government commitment to action have also received wide support:
'We strongly welcome the government's commitment to breaking down the barriers to ethnic minority achievement in the workplace.
'This report marks a step-change in government thinking - clearly recognising the significance of race as a specific cause of disadvantage.
'We now look forward to working with government and others to put this new approach into practice.'
'Britain's ethnic minority population contributes to society in so many ways. But it is clear that too many of them are failing to achieve their full potential and business must do more to help.
'I attach the highest importance to closing the gap - our economy needs to harness and maximise all our talents. This is a complex subject - there are no easy answers - but this report makes a major contribution to progressing that agenda.'
'The TUC wholeheartedly welcomes this detailed and timely report, particularly the proposal to develop a new framework for the Government to deal with race discrimination at work.
'The report helpfully outlines the range of complex issues which result in disadvantage for a growing proportion of the UK workforce. The TUC is committed to working with the Government, the CRE and ethnic communities across the country to give everyone a fairer deal at work.'
'I welcome the government's commitment to addressing the very real issues around race relations in Britain today.
'I am particularly pleased that the government have recognised that in the pursuance of diversity one size does not fit all. Flexibility in the tools used against discrimination will enhance our ability to combat the racism and social exclusion experienced by our ethnic minority communities. '
'We welcome this report. It shows how disadvantage and discrimination robs sections of our ethnic minority communities of the opportunity and prosperity enjoyed by others.
'Access to the labour market is crucial in breaking the cycle of deprivation. The report holds out hope for barriers in that path to be taken down. We look to the government to deliver on its recommendations.'
'Ofsted strongly endorses the report's emphasis on closing educational attainment gaps.
'Under the Office for Standards in Education's new framework for school inspection, that comes into effect this September, inspectors will be asked to investigate how well schools monitor the achievements of ethnic minority groups. Ofsted inspectors will also report on any significant underachievement of particular ethnic minority groups.'
'Acas is well known for helping to build effective relationships in workplaces of all sizes and sectors. We welcome the opportunity to increase the number of our expert advisers offering practical guidance on this very important aspect of relationships in workplaces today. We will work with employers and employees to set up fair and effective policies, targets, training programmes and positive action measures.
'We are also working with other organisations, such as Yorkshire Forward, to deliver equality in workplaces through new initiatives and we hope to expand this partnership approach.
'The business community faces many challenges in fully utilising the talents and skills of ethnic minorities in the workplace. This report identifies a number of critical barriers, which need to be tackled now.
'Organisations in our network are actively engaged in making progress in opening up their workplaces to ethnic minorities. The report provides a strong foundation for the development of strategic policies but the practical outcomes will be the key to success.'
'We welcome this report and support its emphasis on the differences between ethnic minority groups, which suggests the need for a much more nuanced approach to addressing this issue.
The ippr Race Equality and Diversity Task Force will be considering carefully how best to take forward the findings and recommendations of this important piece of work.'
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