Commission on Integration and Cohesion

Workplace (unions and private sector employers)

Emerging themes

'Employment is a key part of the integration process where people from different backgrounds come together'

 

We need:

• To recognise the multiple layers and complexity of workplace, occupational and income segregation in public and private markets
• To tackle inequality, segregation and discrimination
• Improved data sharing on dispersed communities
• To regulate conditions of migrant workers
• Community-based interaction and participation
• To invest in communication and life enhancing skills
• New settlers to be develop English language skills
• Immigrants in the workplace and professional institutions - they provide economic role models
• Lead by example: use workforce index
• Responsible media

Your key messages

'Counter negative attitudes'
'Employment is central to the integration and participation of all groups in society'

 

We need:

• Consult fully with trade unions, employers and other stakeholders
• Contest the notion that separateness is a lifestyle choice - many service inequalities lead to segregation
• Integration needs transparent, fair housing allocation
• Unparalleled complexity with competing priorities, with increased public, political and financial accountabilities
• Protect well-being of migrant workers must be ensured
• Many migrant workers are young, female on low wages
• Some good practice by private sector employers with accommodation, befriending and language provision
• Schools, colleges and citizenship programmes are key
• Develop leaders from excluded groups - young people, women, carers
• This debate should not focus on terrorism and security
• More flexible legislation so unions can play a fuller role

Some important challenges

'The curriculum as a whole should reflect and represent accurately the diversity of the UK and world'

 

We need:

• Invigorating democratic processes for all groups, whilst tackling discrimination and inequalities of minorities
• Challenging extremist groups undermining democracy
• Reducing bureaucracy is schools - more time for mentoring and life skills than league table figures
• Not only about adult immigrants: asylum seeker and refugee children should be given the same chance to achieve so we have skills for the future
• Monitoring policies to assess impact on cohesion
• More consistency on policy - can’t have more English language speakers if English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision has been cut
• Providing employer support and good practice for migrants workers