Employers Losing Out On Skills Of Black And Asian Women - Stunell

10.44.30am GMT Thu 15th Mar 2007

A new report urging a fundamental cultural shift in the workplace to give black and Asian women the chance to get better jobs, was welcomed today by the Liberal Democrats.

The wide-ranging investigation by the Equal Opportunities Commission found that Pakistani, Bangladeshi and black Caribbean women face "significantly greater" employment penalties than white women.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Communities Secretary, Andrew Stunell MP said:

"This report shows that everyone's losing out. Black and Asian women in the UK aren't getting the jobs or progressing in the careers they want, and they're earning less than their white counterparts.

"It is important that we provide better careers advice at school, more work experience choices, and help with childcare costs, especially for larger families.

"In the longer term UK businesses and firms won't be able to maintain their growth unless they start tapping into the skills and talent that young black and Asian women can provide. We'll also fail to build more cohesive communities unless our black and Asian women can get the jobs they want."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

More information on the Equal Opportunities Commission's investigation can be found at: <http://www.eoc.org.uk/Default.aspx?page=20050>;