1. Discrimination and Equal Opportunity
Slovak University of Technology
Faculty of Material Science and Technology in Trnava
Manager ethics
Discrimination and Equal Opportunity

2. What is discrimination?
How can we identify discrimination as the cause of racial disparities?
What policies have been implemented to reduce discrimination?

3. What is discrimination?
Three elements:
Factual element: any distinction, exclusion or preference
Prohibited grounds: race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction, social origin and any other ground identified at the national level
Negative effect on equality of opportunity and treatment (whether or not intended)

4. What is discrimination?
Any discrimination whether it is
In law or in practice
Direct or indirect

5. Examples: Direct discrimination
Job advertisement excluding applicants of a certain gender, age or complexion
Practice of hiring only persons of a certain ethnicity
Exclusion from certain public sector jobs due to political opinion, religion or ethnic origin

6. Examples: Direct discrimination
Exclusion of women to enter the police force or fire brigades
Restricting working time of women, e.g. overtime
Restricting women’s access to certain occupation

7. Indirect discrimination
Apparently neutral law or practice which has a disproportionate negative impact on a particular group protected by the Convention or by national legislation, and which has no objective job-related justification.

8. Examples: Indirect discrimination
Height or language requirements that are unrelated to job
Working time arrangements that impair equal opportunities of persons with family responsibilities
Exclusion from domestic worker from labour legislation

9. Prohibited grounds of discrimination:
Sex/gender discrimination
Race and colour
National extraction
Political opinion
Social origin
Religion
Age
Disability
State of health
Family responsibilities
Sexual orientation
Nationality
Trade union affiliation

10. What is not discrimination?
Inherent requirements of the job
Measures affecting an individual who is suspected of or engaged in activities prejudicial to the security of the State
Special measures of protection and assistance

11. The pay gap Productivity related differences Job availability
Job selection
Pay structure
Perceived labour costs
Lack of awareness

12. Permissible pay differences
Based on objective differences in the work performed
Based on non-sex-based factors such as:
Seniority
Education
Qualifications
Experience
Productivity

13. Methods of wage determination:
Legislation
Public service wage classifications
Collective agreements
Wage directives from wage boards
Custom and practice
Individual contracts

14. The ILO and equality
“All human beings, irrespective of race, creed or sex, have the rights to pursue both their material well-being and their spiritual development in conditions of freedom and dignity, of economic security and equal opportunity”

15. ILO principles of equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women
It is a matter of human rights.
It is a matter of social justice and poverty alleviation.
It is a matter of social and economic development.

16. Gender mainstreaming
It is the strategy of introducing a gender perspective in all areas and at all levels.
Any policy, project, programme and activity must integrate the gender dimension as an integral component of the pursued strategy.

17. Common forms of discrimination
Jobs or occupations with a female denomination
Under-evaluation of certain jobs or occupations
Invisibility of the qualities, tasks, skills & efforts
Vertical & horizontal occupational segregation

18. Thank you for your attention.
Questions?