Racial inequality of workers in health and social care probed

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into racial inequality of ethnic minority workers in lower paid roles in health and social care.

The equality watchdog says it will examine the experiences of workers from a range of ethnic minorities employed in lower-paid roles within the health and social care sectors across England, Scotland and Wales. It will also look at pre-existing work-related factors, such as workplace conditions, policies and training that may have contributed to their risk of coronavirus.

Rebecca Hilsenrath, chief executive of the EHRC, said: “The pandemic has exposed racial inequality across the country. We know that ethnic minority groups are over-represented in lower-paid roles and the effect of the pandemic on those working in these jobs in health and social care is a life and death issue.

“We need to understand the structural issues which have left people from a range of ethnic minorities at greater risk. This inquiry will help to answer those questions and make recommendations that can be applied to a number of other working environments where ethnic minorities are over-represented at the lowest paid levels. This includes those on the frontline who have been supporting all of us through the immense challenges we have faced this year.”

A call for evidence will be announced in the coming weeks, as well as further details about an external Advisory Panel that will help to guide the work.