Discrimination in employment and occupation is a universal phenomenon, which results in millions of women and men being treated unfairly in hiring, on the job and upon leaving. Workers and job seekers have the right to be treated equally, regardless of any attributes other than their ability to do the job, like race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, social or ethnic origin, as well as age, HIV/AIDS, disability, family responsibilities, sexual orientation and trade union membership or activities.
Freedom from discrimination is a fundamental human right and it is embedded in the core ILO International Labour Standards. It is essential for workers to be able to choose their employment freely, to develop their potential to the full and to be rewarded based on merit. Private sector has a key role in promoting equality of opportunity and treatment in the workplace by introducing hiring, placement, training, advancement and other employment policies and practices based on qualifications, skills and experience.
While treating the job seekers and workers fairly is the human right that all employers should respect, it can also be advantageous for business and may improve business productivity and/or profits through attraction and retention of high skilled workers and better utilization of staff resources; enhanced employee morale and commitment; improved understanding of diverse markets, strengthened customer loyalty, increased resilience, competitiveness, and innovation; enhanced brand image and reputation of the company.
In 2021, the ILO Office for Italy and San Marino has joined the Observatory on Diversity and Inclusion organized by the United Nations Global Compact Network Italy (UNGCNI) to showcase how Italian enterprises can promote diversity and inclusion in line with the ILO standards in their day-to-day operations and supply chains around the world.
The Observatory will promote a number of meetings dedicated to the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace, labour integration of migrant and refugee workers, achievement of gender equality and promotion of job and training opportunities for young people. The ILO experts in these areas will demonstrate how Italian enterprises can use the ILO guidance, resources and training in tackling discrimination as well as outline the benefits of joining the business networks led by the Organization. The participants will also learn more about the ILO MNE Declaration and its follow up mechanisms, including the Helpdesk for Business, a one-stop shop for company managers and workers on how to better align business operations with international labour standards and build good industrial relations.
