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Chamber and committees

Report by Close the Gap

  • Submitted by: Fulton MacGregor, Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2019
  • Motion reference: S5M-17454

That the Parliament welcomes the recent launch of the Close the Gap report, Still Not Visible: Black and minority ethnic women’s experiences of employment in Scotland; recognises that this new research aims to deliver information, statistics and experiences of the inequalities that BME women face in Scotland; notes with concern findings in the report, which show that almost three-quarters of BME women in the workplace have experienced racism, discrimination, racial prejudice and bias, while 42% indicated they had experienced bullying, harassment or victimisation, simply because they were a BME woman; understands that further evidence in the report highlights problems with workplace reporting mechanisms, with over half of the victims choosing not to report a complaint, and with less than a quarter feeling satisfied with how their complaint was handled; considers that this report provides strong evidence that BME women continue to face high levels of racism, racial prejudice and discrimination in the labour market; considers that tackling BME women’s labour market inequalities, particularly where there is also wealth- and poverty-related inequality, is a necessary step if Scotland is to realise its ambition for inclusive growth; further considers that this requires transformational change, with policymakers and employers adopting intersectional approaches and targeted solutions, and congratulates Close the Gap on producing this report in the fight to reduce inequality for women from a BME background in the labour market.


Supported by: Clare Adamson, Tom Arthur, Angela Constance, Bob Doris, Jenny Gilruth, Bill Kidd, Johann Lamont, Monica Lennon, Richard Lyle, Angus MacDonald, Rona Mackay, Gillian Martin, John Mason, Stuart McMillan, Pauline McNeill, Gail Ross, Stewart Stevenson, Sandra White