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Written question asked by Lord Boateng (Labour) on Thursday, 3 December 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 December 2020. It was answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford (Conservative) on Thursday, 17 December 2020 on behalf of the Home Office.

Employment: Vetting

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance is being given to employers to avoid racial discrimination when verifying employees' eligibility to work; and what redress is available to people who may have been racially discriminated against in this manner.

Answer

The Home Office has published statutory codes of practice on GOV.UK for employers on how to avoid unlawful discrimination when undertaking checks. This guidance clearly stipulate that employers should provide individuals with every opportunity to demonstrate their right to work and should not discriminate on the basis of race, or any of the other protected characteristics.

We are clear that those who discriminate are breaking the law. Anyone who believes they have been discriminated against, either directly or indirectly, may bring a complaint before the courts or before an employment tribunal. The Equality Advisory Support Service is there to support people who may have experienced discrimination in England, Scotland or Wales, and an equivalent is provided by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Avoiding discrimination while preventing illegal working: code of practice, can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checks-code-of-practice-on-avoiding-discrimination.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL11065
Session
2019-21
Attachment
Right to work checks - code of practice
Subjects
Employment Racial discrimination Vetting
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk