January 04, 2021
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has published statistics in relation to employment equality complaints received in the first six months of 2020. The WRC committed to publish these statistics every six months, disaggregated by the nine grounds of discrimination. This was one of the actions contained in the “National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020: creating a better society for all. The strategy is intended to respond to women’s needs across a diversity of identities and situations. The strategy sets out a series of actions to promote women’s equality in the workplace, in politics, in sport, and in the arts.
Liam Kelly, Director General of the WRC indicated that the two leading grounds for employment equality complaints submitted during the first six months of 2020 was “gender” (23%) closely followed by “age” (18%) and disability at 18%, however it is too early to say if this trend will change for the full year.
Breakdown of Complaints Received under Discrimination/Equality/Equal Status during January to June 2019 period
| Equal Status |
204 |
| Equality |
637 |
| Total: |
841 |
| Breakdown for Equality specific complaints |
|
| Age |
117 |
| Civil Status |
22 |
| Disability |
100 |
| Family Status |
98 |
| Gender |
149 |
| Membership of the Travelling Community |
3 |
| Race |
103 |
| Religion |
15 |
| Sexual Orientation |
18 |
| Total Grounds Selected |
637 |
| Note: Of the 479 Equality complaints received, this showed 637 results, when viewing the grounds, as the complainant can choose more than one ground when they make the specific complaint. So some specific complaints would have more than 1 ground. |
Mr. Kelly highlighted the critically important role the WRC can play for persons who want to make a complaint about any discrimination, for example discrimination by gender – “We are working with our stakeholders to deliver this key message – the place to make a complaint about discrimination is to the WRC. Making a complaint is free and can be done online, and both sides can expect the WRC to give them both a hearing and a decision promptly.”