Actual diversity in the world of work or just discriminated against people as a figurehead for diversity?

By signing the Diversity Charter, 4900 companies and institutions have committed to promoting diversity in the world of work. Precisely, according to the charter, this means: “The implementation of the "Charter of Diversity" in our organization aims to create an appreciative working environment for all employees - regardless of age, ethnic origin and nationality, gender and gender identity, physical and mental abilities, religion and belief, sexual orientation and social background. The recognition and promotion of diverse potential creates economic advantages for our organization.”.[1]

This charter was launched in 2006 and is supported by the Federal Government Commissioner for Anti-Racism and Minister of State for Migration, Refugees and Integration, Reem Alabali-Radovan.

Although Germany is celebrating the 11th Day of Diversity today, there are still significant hurdles and barriers for migrant and refugee women in terms of access to the labor market and safe and fair working conditions.

If migrant or refugee women manage to find a place on the German labor market, they are confronted with a wage difference of 20% compared to German women, which does not even take into account the general gender pay gap of 18%. In addition, there is a lack of recognition of qualifications, educational injustice, the incompatibility of work and family, precarious working conditions and racist and other discriminatory treatment in the workplace. Despite the commitment to diversity on the labor market, migrant women still have fewer opportunities to participate in the German labor market than immigrant men and women without a migration background.

On this day, we call on companies to make working conditions more humane and fairer. In addition to recognizing skills, employers should be prepared to question their own structures and, if necessary, strive to raise awareness among managers and employees in the company. This process aims to gradually break down racism, sexism and prejudice against queer and trans people. People who experience discrimination or multiple discrimination should not be misused as mere advertisements for diversity.

We also call for political measures that create conditions in which all refugee and migrant women can live, learn and work on an equal footing and that diversity in the labor market is not just lip service.

[1] https://www.charta-der-vielfalt.de/ueber-uns/ueber-die-initiative/die-urkunde-im-wortlaut/