ASIAN WOMEN UNDERPAID SAYS EOC
(6 December 2004)

Ethnic minority women are well educated but not doing as well financially as their white colleagues according to research launched today by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC). Ethnic minority women and men, the EOC's new statistical briefing, provides a snapshot picture of the different experiences of women and men from different ethnic minority groups and reveals that:

• Overall ethnic minority women are more likely to enter Higher
  Education (58%), followed by ethnic minority men (55%), white women (41%) and white men (34%)
• Ethnic minority women have lower average income than white women (£118 per week compared to £135 per week)
• Black African, Pakistani and Bangladeshi women were three times as likely to be unemployed than white women

Speaking at the launch of the research, Julie Mellor, and Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission said "We know from our investigations into Britain's sex segregated workplaces that many firms are experiencing shortages of people with the right skills. Yet despite this, ethnic minority women are telling us that their careers are held back by stereotypes based on their sex as well as their ethnic background and this is confirmed by the limited statistics that are available. But Britain simply can't afford to waste women's skills in this way.

"Our ongoing investigations into the problems faced by women are finding that sex discrimination is a big issue for working black and ethnic minority women and affects different ethnic groups in different ways. For example, Asian women are more likely to be caring for extended family members and often can't find the flexible working patterns they need, or simply cannot find appropriate childcare. Black Caribbean women can find themselves pigeon-holded into jobs which are not necessarily the ones they want to do. As well as tackling the prejudice which stops women from making the best use of their talents, we also need a National Family Strategy which would give parents and carers the support they need in managing the demands of work and home. This would help give more choice to parents of all backgrounds about who goes out to work and who looks after the family. "

At the launch, which was hosted by Jennette Arnold, member of the London Assembly, the EOC also published two new advice publications. Her face doesn't fit is a guide for individual women who need advice on what they can do if they face problems at work because of discrimination. The EOC's other publication is aimed at organisations which advise individual women of their rights. The EOC also offers a confidential telephone line (0845 601 5901) and e-mail service which can help anyone who is being treated unfairly because of their sex. Interpreting facilities are available for speakers of different languages.

Examples of real life experiences of black and ethnic minority women who have contacted the Equal Opportunities Commission:

Asian woman
"Employers treat Asian women differently because they feel we will get married and have kids"

Chinese female worker for a clinical research company
"I missed a chance to be promoted because I wasn't told about it whilst I was on maternity leave. When I asked why I wasn't informed about the promotion opportunity, the Senior Vice President told me that I would not have been considered anyway. They tried to use the disciplinary process to get rid of me but they only gave me less than 24hrs notice before my review so were trying to set me up for a fall."

The EOC is currently carrying out three major investigations into

• Pregnancy discrimination
• Problems faced by Parents and Carers who can't work the traditional '9-5'
• Occupational segregation - investigation into Britain's sex-segregated workplaces

Results are due out next year for each investigation and recommendations which arise out of the research will be made to Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The Equal Opportunities Commission is calling for a National Family
Strategy which would provide:

• Quality community based childcare and extended schools for children aged 0-14, affordable and accessible for all.
• A comprehensive, flexible care service infrastructure, to provide care tailored to the needs of the individual and the carer
• Choice, with effective financial support and flexibility to families
  in managing their caring and working roles, including an improved
  framework of paid leave for mothers. Fathers and carers, better access to flexible working and no pension penalties.