Skip to main content
Abstract

This report assesses the role of the social partners in tackling workplace discrimination. Against the background of EU and national anti-discrimination legislation, it highlights the extent to which the need to tackle discrimination on different grounds is on the radar of cross-sectoral social partners. It also provides an overview of the measures taken to deal with the persistent incidence of discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, and sexual orientation or gender identity.

Key findings

Recent EU-level surveys point to a reported increase in the incidence of workplace discrimination. In the period 2005–2015, the European Working Conditions Survey shows an increase from 5% to 7% of workers reporting that they have been subjected to workplace discrimination.

Age discrimination experienced by both younger and older workers tends to be the most prevalent form, but discrimination on the grounds of disability and unequal treatment based on race and ethnicity are also common, particularly in recruitment processes.

The main challenges to be addressed to tackle workplace discrimination are: the persistence of stereotypes, low awareness of rights and obligations on the part of employers and workers, and inadequate enforcement of existing non-discrimination regulations.

In most countries, tackling workplace discrimination is seen to be high on the agenda of the social partners. This is particularly true for age, disability and race discrimination. The issue of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity has been highlighted in recent years.

Actions on the part of the social partners aimed at reducing workplace discrimination include influencing legislation and policymaking, monitoring workplace practices and supporting affected workers, drafting guidelines and reaching collective agreements on the issue.

This report contains the following listing of tables and figures.

List of tables

  • Table 1: Extent to which discrimination is perceived as being ‘widespread’ in society in the EU27 and the UK (%)
  • Table 2: Perceptions of tensions between different social groups, EU27 and the UK, 2007, 2011 and 2016 (%)
  • Table 3: Trends in workplace discrimination on different grounds over the last five years
  • Table 4: Actions by cross-sectoral social partners aimed at tackling workplace discrimination, 2015–2020
  • Table 5: Level and nature of involvement of social partners in policymaking (with specific emphasis on European Semester process)
  • Table 6: Reasons why cross-industry social partners do not take action in relation to workplace discrimination on different grounds

List of figures

  • Figure 1: Types of social partner actions to tackle workplace discrimination (number of countries)  
  • Figure 2: Trends in perceptions of discrimination in wider society, EU27 and the UK, 2012, 2015 and 2019 (%)
  • Figure 3: Status regarding workplace discrimination at national level (number of countries)  
  • Figure 4: Different grounds of discrimination on the radar of the social partners
  • Figure 5: Different types of social partner activities to tackle workplace discrimination (number of countries)
Number of pages
64
Reference nº
EF20011
ISBN
978-92-897-2104-2
Catalogue nº
TJ-04-20-431-EN-N
DOI
10.2806/718
Permalink
Produced at the request of
the European Commission in the context of the preparation of a Commission report on the implementation of Directives 2000/43/EC and 2000/78/EC.

Cite this publication

Disclaimer

When freely submitting your request, you are consenting Eurofound in handling your personal data to reply to you. Your request will be handled in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data. More information, please read the Data Protection Notice.

To verify you're human, please enter the result of this calculation: 20 + 5.