A national report published by the European Intercultural Workplace (EIW) Project has recommended that both the Government and the private sector undertake a more pro-active approach to accommodating diversity in the workplace. The report was launched at an international conference, last month, in the Helix, Dublin City University. The conference coincided with the official publication of a set of intercultural training materials for use by HR professionals.

Among the recommendations contained in the EIW report were:

Ø Irish Government policy in this area to be informed by reference to both good and bad practice in other countries, drawing on international expertise rather than applying ad hoc reactive measures.
Ø HR professionals in all organisations need to create a supportive climate for ethnic minorities in the workforce, and give clear directives that racist comments and actions are unacceptable.
Ø Joint participation by minority and Irish workers to be encouraged across all areas, including training initiatives and social activities.
Ø Diversity training to be provided to members of the workforce who interact daily with minority groups, including teachers, gardaí and health service personnel.
Ø More creative measures need to be employed to address language barriers.
Ø Examples of good practice across all industry sectors need to be highlighted and rewarded, in order to stimulate further positive initiatives.

Minister of State for Integration, Conor Lenihan, was on hand at the conference to launch the set of training materials. The materials, which are available on DVD and are downloadable from www.eiworkplace.net, include EIW national reports from the ten participating countries, trans-national sector-specific booklets on education and health, an EIW overview of legislation in the area, and the Europe at Work training guides.

Speaking at the conference, Aileen Pearson-Evans, Ireland’s EIW Project Director and lecturer in DCU’s School of Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies, said: ‘Time is critical. Ireland has a great opportunity to enrich society and the workplace by building on other countries’ experiences with regard to intercultural integration. It is vital that the Government demonstrates its commitment by allocating sufficient resources to ensure that good intercultural policies can be implemented effectively, and adequate intercultural training provided where necessary.’

The level of diversity in Irish workplaces is continuing to increase steadily: of all new jobs created in 2006, 56 per cent were filled by non-Irish nationals.