Workplaces need to examine how their institutional policies and practices contribute to the perception of cultural difference as a problem, according to the chief executive of the Equality Authority, Mr Niall Crowley.
At the introduction of a joint initiative between the Authority, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) to address racism in the workplace, Mr Crowley warned of the challenging context within which the initiative was being developed.
"Institutional policies and practices can affirm negative stereotypes and can fail to accommodate cultural difference," Mr Crowley said.
He also spoke of the potential of the recently enacted Employment Equality legislation, the forthcoming Equal Status Act, and of social partnership in contributing to the fight against racism in the workplace.
"A wider culture of rights is being embedded in our society not just with this legislation but also with the legislation creating a Human Rights Commission and with the implementation of the Belfast multi-party agreement," Mr Crowley said.
The joint initiative will involve the development of a new IBEC/ ICTU policy statement on racism, the organisation of a weeklong series of events in November this year focusing on racism in the workplace, and the publication of a resource pack by the Equality Authority.
ICTU's president, Ms Inez McCormack, said Congress saw the initiative not just in the context of ensuring workplaces themselves are non-discriminatory in the treatment of workers but also as an opportunity to use the workplace as a place of information, education, and positive action towards diversity and inter-culturalism.
The director of IBEC, Mr Brendan Butler, said the organisation would work hand in hand with its members to initiate actions to combat racism and celebrate cultural diversity in the workplace.
Ms Liz Harpur, a member of the Black & Ethnic Minority Women's Group and who is originally from Kenya, said racism was all too evident when looking for a job.
"In one place where I applied for a job, they said they wanted an Irish person. "I said `but I am Irish', but then they said they wanted a white Irish man. I was amazed," says Ms Harpur.
