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Council crisis over ethnic jobs

1/10/2002

A COUNCIL has failed to increase the number of new ethnic minority workers despite an equal opportunities policy.

A report reveals that the number of ethnic minority recruited by Bury council fell over a 12-month period.

Overall only 1 per cent of its workforce is Asian or black - well below the level required by law under new race relations legislation.

Figures show that while 308 Asians and black applied for jobs over the period July 2000 and June 2001 only 13 got them. The report adds that efforts are being made to encourage more applications from ethnic minorities.

Under the Race Relations Amendment Act which became law in May public bodies, including councils, are required to employ a proportion of ethnic minorities equal to the percentage they represent in the community they serve.

Bury Race Equality Council acting director Sam Cohen said they had been concerned for 10 years over Bury council's ethnic minority recruitment.

"We always keep an eye on these figures and have written to the council several times in the past about them," he said.