Discriminatory employment practices
Published:Friday | July 2, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
The concern that some Jamaican employers refuse to employ people who live in inner-city communities because of stereotypical views about their attitudes have come into public focus as a result of the recent events in Tivoli Gardens and the subsequent media reports of graduates from the community who claim that they are unable to get jobs despite their qualifications.
Undoubtedly, some of the subtle forms of discriminatory practices have long caused some Jamaicans to lose faith in the system and to seek alternative forms of survival. For a nation that claims to pride itself through its anthem - "... justice truth be ours for ever, Jamaica land we love ..." we have clearly been weighed in the balance and have been found wanting.
Jamaica was one of the early voices that wanted an end to the ghastly system of apartheid. Yet, Jamaicans are very silent and look the other way when subtle forms of discrimination are taking place among our own people.
Tax incentives
Discrimination is discrimination whether it is by skin colour or place of residence. To those employers who have consistently sought not to discriminate against people because of their addresses, all praises to you. Perhaps you should lobby for the Government to provide you with tax incentives for not discriminating against persons from inner-city communities.
It is time that policymakers do some thing about this anomaly in terms of equal employment opportunity. The minister of labour and social security could start by drafting regulations that would make it optional for persons applying for job to be required to disclose their addresses prior to getting the job. The most that would be required on a résumé is the parish in which the person is from. Once the applicant has received the job, then at that time his or her address should be required. Additionally, it should be illegal while doing background checks on the individual to ask any referee to disclose the address of the individual for employment purposes. A possible consideration is that a law could be passed that require a percentage of employees to be from the inner cities once they meet all other criteria for employment.
It seems hypocritical to be purely concerned about "Jamaica's image in the world" and not having equal concern about "Jamaica's image in Jamaica". As the saying goes 'we should first learn to dance a yard before going abroad'.
I am, etc.,
JOAN FRANCIS