infocus programme on promoting the declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work...

InFocus Programme on Promoting the Declaration on Fundamental Principlesand Rights at Work

International Labour Office

Measuring inter-racial inequalities in the labour market: issues, facts and

challenges

by Manuela Tomei

InFocus Programme on the Follow-up to the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, ILO Geneva

UN Panel on Follow-up to Durban Declaration

(Geneva, 26 October 2004)



Data gathering: key to address discrimination in employment and

occupation

Data gathering is essential to:a) broaden the knowledge base on

discriminationb) set targets and benchmarks to measure

progress towards equalityc) inform policy choicesd) influence budgetary allocations; ande) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness

of policy interventions



Employment statistics and « people of African descent »

How do we identify « people of African descent » and what distinguishes them from other racial/ethnic groups?

The term « people of African descent»: useful as a broad notion to highlight the specific circumstances of people commonly referred to as « blacks »,

but too vague to serve as a basis for data collection

The notions of « race », « colour » or « ethnic origin » or a combination of these and other variables may be more helpful in this regard



The challenge of gathering statistics on the racial/ethnic composition of national

societiesTraditionally, there has been a certain resistance towards

collecting statistics on the racial/ethnic composition of national societies

Why is it so? Because of:

A.Governements’ fear that revealing inter-racial/ethnic inequalities may:

undermine social cohesion or put them under pressure B.Racial/ethnic groups’ worry that information may: be used to their detriment or reinforce prevalent negative racial stereotypes



The challenge of gathering statistical data on the racial/ethnic composition of national

societies

There is no international classification system for « races » or ethnic groups; this does not permit comparisons between countries

Many countries do collect this type of statistics or are reviewing their racial/ethnic national classification systems

The type and combination of variables used to define racial/ethnic groups and the ways data are gathered vary by country and over time



The challenge of gathering statistical data on the racial/ethnic composition

of national societies

Information can be gathered in three ways:

• through self-identification• through observation• through the analysis of peoples’ DNA.



Labour market inequalities and discrimination

Agreement on the existence of racial/ethnic disparities

Divergent views on the causes of these disparities and the extent to which discrimination is an explanatory factor

A correct analysis of these disparities is crucial because of the implications for policy

Racial/ethnic discrimination at work involves more than one dimensions,hence the need for a set of labor market indicators to measure racial/ethnic equality or inequality



Labour market inequalities and discrimination

Suggested set of labor market indicators for measuring racial/ethnic inequalities and racial discrimination:

the gap between the educational attainments of the dominant and the subordinate racial/ethnic groups

the distribution of different racial/ethnic groups (both dominant and subordinate) between different occupations and related earning levels

differential in earnings between dominant and subordinate people with otherwise similar characteristics

the gap in employment and unemployment rates



Three case studies: Brazil, Britain and the USA

Brazil The myth of Brazil as a « racial democracy » has been

challenged in the past 20 years Race and class –based discrimination: key determinants of the

disadvantaged socio-economic position of « blacks » National classification system (used both by the National Census

and the PNAD as of 1990): based on « colour » and « race » Five categories used: « branco », « pardo », « preto »,

« amarelo », and « indígena »; the « pardos » and the « pretos »

make up the « blacks » Method of data collection: self-classification and observation In 2000, the « blacks » represented 45.2% of the total

population and 44.5% of the EAP



Average labour income by sex and race 1992-2001

Average income of all jobs (Jan. 2002, REAIS)

White men

White women

Black men

Black women

Occupied people of 16 years and more, of all educational levels



Graph 2: Umployment rate, by race and sex, 1992-2001

EAP of 16 years and more for all educational levels

Black women

White women

Black men

White men




Britain Changes in the national racial classification system reflect changes

in migration patterns In 1991 the Census asked, for the first time, a question about the

etnic group affiliation of respondents and identified nine categories The 1994 Fourth National Survey identified 12 ethnic groups

(those of the Census +other three) and asked two questions: one about the repondents’ ethnic group affiliation and one about their family’s origin

Since the 1960s relative progress in the relative employment and earning levels of ethnic minorities compared to « whites »

Old « White-Black » divide has been replaced by a new racial hierarchy with « Whites », « Chinese » and « African Asians » at the top, the « Bangladeshis » and « Pakistanis » at the bottom, and the « Caribbeans » and « Indians »in the middle




USA The notion of « race » prevails over that of « colour » (« one drop rule »

according to which African ancestry is essential to classify a person as African American)

Changes in national racial classification system reflects changes in migration patterns

Since 2000, the Census has identified15 racial ethnic/ groups; previously, since 1977, only 4 categories were included (« White », « Black », « Asian » and « Amerindian »); self-classification is the method used to gather information

Racial/ethnic socio-economic disparities are very large: between 1970 and 1990 poverty trends for « African Americans », « Hispanics » and « Whites » remained almost unchanged, but in the 1990s poverty declined significantly for all groups, most particularly for « African Americans »

The ratio of the « African American » median family income to the « white » median family income was 0.51% in 1970 and 1992 and increased to 0.59 in 1999



Final remarks Racism and racial/ethnic disparities are universal phenomena,

but their manifestations and intensity vary by country Collecting regular, accurate and reliable data on the socio-

economic status of racial/ethnic subordinate groups and comparing them with that of dominant groups is essential to combat racism at work

Racial/ethnic classification systems, and related categories, and methods of data gathering are country-specific and are not fixed

Irrespective of national circusmtances, self-identification is a recommendable method for gathering labour market data by race or ethnicity

As racism involves more than one dimension, a set of labour market indicators seems in order to monitor progress (or lack of it) in fighting racism at work

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