Employment minister to roll out sector-wide discrimination tests this autumn
Flemish employment minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) will introduce field tests across most sectors in Flanders from this autumn to detect discrimination in hiring, linking participation to government subsidies. Thirty-two of 39 sector federations have agreed to take part, while seven have refused and will lose funding. De Tijd reported this on Thursday.
The tests involve sending out fake job applications by email or phone from two comparable profiles, differing only in name or age, in order to identify discrimination based on age or ethnic background. Demir says she wants to tackle discrimination against older workers in particular, while also identifying discrimination against people with a migration background.
Subsidies linked to participation
Participation in the tests has been linked to alleged sector covenants, through which Flanders allocates funding for projects promoting lifelong learning, career transitions and workplace inclusion. Demir has reduced the overall funding envelope from 23 million euros to 12 million euros, while tying access to the remaining funds to cooperation with the field trials.
Most sectors have agreed to participate, despite reservations. “We're using the money to fund projects related to workplace inclusion or the training of potential job seekers, in collaboration with sectors like logistics or food. That remains important to us,” says Maurits Vanackere, policy adviser at Federgon, the federation of the temporary employment sector. “We have to accept the extra administration and practical tests. We used to make mystery calls ourselves (false phone calls to detect discrimination, ed.) , but now we have to relinquish control.”
Seven sector organisations, including those representing white-collar workers, food, transport and logistics, local authorities, relocation, funerals and metal and technology, have chosen not to take part. They cite both budget cuts and increased administrative demands. “We're getting more tasks, have to demonstrate more, and are losing part of the budget: that's too much of a good thing,” says Vickie Dekocker of technology federation Agoria.
Transport and Logistics Flanders also points to stricter conditions. “We're losing funding, and in return, we're being subjected to more stringent obligations to achieve certain results. But the field tests are also a reason we're not participating,” says deputy director Evy Van Der Paelt.
Sanctions and political opposition
Demir insists the objective is not to name and shame individual firms but to raise awareness across sectors. She still needs to launch a public tender to develop the tests, which will be imposed centrally to ensure comparable results. However, she warns that future sector agreements could carry financial consequences. “If field tests reveal persistent and clearly demonstrable discrimination without appropriate action, funding for those sectors could be halted. But we actually assume that all sectors will participate,” says the minister.
Opposition parties are critical. Groen MP Eva Platteau says Demir is “making a mess” and argues that linking subsidies to the tests was a mistake. “By imposing sanctions through the covenants, Demir would be punishing the entire sector. This includes companies that are doing nothing wrong and the employees for whom the funds are actually intended. That's a complete turn of events.”
The Vlaams Belang party has described the plan as a “witch hunt.” “Ultimately, companies lose subsidies and have to publish the results themselves,” says Flemish Parliament member Tom Lamont. “Sectors are also completely incomparable. Construction, for example, is more likely to seek out younger professionals because of the physical demands. Do those companies discriminate against older workers?”
Employers’ organisation Voka is also opposed. “There is no economic rationale for discrimination, especially not in this tight labour market,” it argues.
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP
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