Black and Asian workers suffer
wage discrimination

12 April 2002 - A new report - Black and excluded - released by the TUC reveals that black and Asian male workers earn on average £97 per week less than white counterparts.

Launched to coincide with the TUC's Black Workers' Conference in Southport, the report highlights alarming differences in pay within black and Asian communities. On average:

* Pakistani and Bangladeshi men earn £150 per week less than white men.

* Caribbean men earn £115 and Africans £116 per week less than white men.

* Black and Asian women earn £7 per week more than white women - mainly because they are more likely to be in full-time jobs.

* But Pakistani and Bangladeshi women earn £34 per week less than white women.

Average weekly earnings in Britain (£)

Origin White All black Caribbean African Indian Pakistani/Bangladeshi

Men 332 235 217 216 327 182

Women 180 187 210 199 194 146

The TUC is asking for all employers to be legally required to promote good race relations in their organisations. This is a legal duty in the public sector at present - but not in the private and voluntary sectors. The TUC also wants a further change in the law so that trade unions and the Commission for Racial Equality can take collective cases on behalf of individuals or groups of members. The government should also encourage employers to regularly monitor pay data to ensure equality, says the TUC.

Apart from direct racial discrimination, factors affecting pay include black and Asian workers being trapped in low paid jobs and economic sectors such as textiles; language problems, despite high educational achievement; and being concentrated in deprived areas of the country with a dependence on public transport.

John Monks TUC General Secretary, said: 'New laws in the public sector will make a difference - these must now be extended to end the unfairness in pay for black and Asian workers. These workers already suffer twice the levels of unemployment, lack of promotion opportunities and racial harassment. Unions are seeking to work in partnership with employers and the government to end this disadvantage.'

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