DWP008/10
Those wanting to make a difference to the employment
opportunities of ethnic minorities and influence Government policy
are being urged to apply for membership of the Ethnic Minority
Advisory Group (EMAG).
Whilst the ethnic minority employment gap has narrowed over
recent years, it still stands at 13.8 percentage points and recent
research shows that racial discrimination still exists in
recruitment practices.2, 3.
EMAG provides advice to the Ethnic Minority Employment Task
Force4 on what is likely to work best for ethnic minority
communities. It reviews planned initiatives to ensure they have
the best chance of success, makes recommendations on new
initiatives that Government could take forward and examines
existing policies to advise if they are working as intended.
Applicants are being sought from various sectors including
education, voluntary and community groups, training providers,
faith groups and employers, to provide a valuable source of advice
and guidance based on their experiences.
Membership of EMAG is voluntary and unpaid. The group meets
quarterly, usually in London. However, representatives from across
the country are urged to apply with the option of meetings taking
place in other areas or via a new virtual network.
The
closing date for applications is Friday 26 February 2010. For
further details on how to apply and the application form please
visit: http://www.emetaskforce.gov.uk/index.asp
or telephone Christine Wright on 020 7449 5630.
Notes to Editors
1. Whilst the ethnic minority employment gap has narrowed over
recent years, it still stands at 13.8 percentage points - Labour
Force Survey, Quarter 3 2009
2. The recent research shows that racial discrimination still
exists in recruitment practices – the study showed discrimination
occurred for those applying for jobs with a name suggesting they
were from an ethnic minority, rather than white British. For every
nine applications sent by a white applicant, an equally good
applicant with an ethnic minority name had to send sixteen to
obtain a positive response.
3. The research was carried out by the National Centre for Social
Research. Three very similar applications to actual vacancies were
submitted across a particular set of occupations and areas between
November 2008 and May 2009. One of the three had a white British
name with the other two were from different ethnic minority
groups. Names were randomly assigned to different applications.
All the applications contained British education and work
histories. Three applications were sent to 987 advertised job
vacancies giving a total of 2,961 applications. Applications were
made to private, public and voluntary sector employers of varying
sizes. Discrimination was measured as differential treatment at an
aggregate level between the ethnic groups in the study.
4. The EMETF was formed on the back of the Prime Ministers
Strategy Unit report in March 2003, which examined a range of
factors influencing the labour market achievement of ethnic
minority people, and set out three specific categories of policy
measures to address the many barriers to success in
employment:
- Action to improve employability by raising
levels of educational attainment and skills;
- Action to
connect people with work by reforming existing employment
programmes, tackling specific barriers to work in deprived areas,
and promoting self-employment; and
- Action to promote equal
opportunities in the workplace through better advice and support
to employers, and through more effective use of levers such as
public procurement.
The report also recommended the creation of a Ministerial Task
Force, chaired by the Minister for Work, to oversee the
implementation of the SU recommendations and ensure that they are
fully embedded into the cross-Whitehall ethnic minority
strategy.
The Task Force, which meets on a quarterly basis,
comprises Ministers from the eight key departments tasked with
taking forward the strategy, together with representatives from
other public bodies and the private sector.
Contacts:
Department Work and Pensions
Phone: 020 3267 5144
NDS.DWP@coi.gsi.gov.uk