ILO calls for papers to help stop racial discrimination at work

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is asking equality experts, practitioners, academic institutions, research institutions and activists from around the world to share their insights and recommendations on how to eliminate racial discrimination at work.

News | 18 March 2022
The Call for papers is open until 31 December 2022. Authors of up to 20 selected papers will receive an award of 500 USD and will be invited to present their papers in an on-line symposium. With this initiative, the ILO hopes to stimulate global and national policy debates on the issue.

Despite the universal recognition of the right to equality and non-discrimination in employment and occupation, racial, gender-based and other discrimination affects millions of workers who face obstacles finding employment, decent work and career opportunities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated labour market inequalities. Ethnic minority and migrant workers, indigenous persons, including those working in the informal economy, face serious threats to their livelihoods. Those working in frontline jobs, including in the female-dominated care and retail sectors, have experienced increased levels of stress, as well as violence and harassment.

“It is crucial that we create a comprehensive knowledge base on racial equality barriers and measures, give those affected a voice, and promote social dialogue for bringing about new and innovative actions to combat racial discrimination in the world of work” says Chidi King, Chief of the ILO’s Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Branch.

The call for papers focuses on key policy areas relating to the formal and informal economy, the measurement of discrimination, socio-economic exclusion, access to effective legal protection, and ways and means of addressing emerging spheres of discrimination in the context of digitalization and artificial intelligence.

The proposals emerging from the symposium will help strengthen the implementation of existing ILO tools such as the ILO’s Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111),which requires countries to take specific action towards the elimination of discrimination, including racial discrimination. The Convention has been ratified by 175 of the ILO’s 187 member States.