Brussels, 11/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Network Against Racism, ENAR, published a report on Wednesday 9 June by its ad hoc expert group on promoting equality in employment at the European Parliament. The publication ceremony was chaired by the vice-president of the European Parliament's Diversity and Anti-Racism Intergroup, British Conservative MEP Sajjad Karim.
The ENAR report makes a series of key recommendations to the European institutions, member states , private sector and social partners (employers and trade unions) in terms of policy and the setting up of strategic partnerships. It highlights best practice in the eradication of barriers to the job market and glass ceilings for ethnic minorities. The experts call for the EU 2020 strategy to include a strong social component to genuinely improve job prospects for ethnic and religious minorities, including minorities in its integrated employment guidelines.
The ENAR expert group is an innovative initiative comprising four multinational companies committed to diversity (Sodexho, L'Oréal, IBM and Adecco Group). It was set up in partnership with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) with the support of DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities at the European Commission, in order to ensure ethnic minorities were included on the labour market, explains ENAR in a press release. ENAR chairman Mohammed Aziz explains that the initiative is part of ENAR's overall vision of society, guaranteeing security, equality and prosperity for all. Everyone should fight for equality, not just minorities, he said, adding that ENAR wants to unite people from all horizons to find practical solutions that can make a positive contribution to equality.
For further details, see http://www.enar-eu.org/Page_Generale.asp?DocID=15845&langue=EN (G.B./transl.fl)