The phenomenon of discrimination on grounds of age, sex or ethnicity on employment persists. It negatively affects the whole society and the economy. The state will not manage to effectively implement non-discrimination legislation if it’s not helped by employers. The issue was discussed in the first Employers Forum for Non-Discrimination, initiated by the private business sector of Moldova, IPN reports.
The Embassy of Sweden and the EU Delegation to Moldova supported the private sector’s initiative. In the opening of the event, Swedish Ambassador Ingrid Tersman said the campaigns that promote non-discrimination principles stand to gain only. It’s not enough to have a plan for promoting these principles. A driving force is needed to speed things up.
Wicher Slagter, head of the Political and Economic Section of the EU Delegation to Moldova, reminded that mathematician Alan Turing saved Europe when he deciphered the fascists’ code during World War II and invented a number of components for computers without which the operation system, the Internet and the last-generation phones wouldn’t have existed. “Alan Turing was homosexual. He lived in a period and in a society that weren’t at all tolerant. He was convicted and killed himself at not even 50. If he had been accepted as he was, he would have discovered and invented more things,” he stated, adding that a society sustains losses if it does not show tolerance. The EU supports Moldova to become a democratic state where the people are appreciated according to their merits.
Alexei Buzu, executive director of the National Women’s Studies and Information Center “Partnership for Development”, told the journalists that international practice shows the companies whose administration includes more women have incomes by about 30% higher. It was proven that when non-discrimination on employment is promoted, the salary earners become more loyal and productive. Employment discrimination against persons with disabilities should be eliminated when these persons apply for posts with which they can cope.
Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Ruxanda Glavan said the promotion of the non-discrimination principles is important for the country’s European course. The efforts made by the state are equal to zero if they are not support by employers.
At the end of the forum, the attending employers signed a commitment to promote non-discrimination policies in their companies.
