ITV Job Application Racially Discriminates

A job listing for an ITV Tonight Researcher on the jobs website w4mpjobs.org has a concerning requirement. Listed as the second bullet point under the “TO APPLY” section, it states: “This traineeship is only open to candidates from a black, Asian, or non-white ethnic minority background.”

In the name of equality (of outcome), some employers enact discrimination in this form in order to reach a form of parity. Names for this include affirmative action, reverse racism, positive action, and (to many) racism.

According to Chapter 2 of the Equality Act of 2010, an employer may only take race into account if two applicants of different races are equally qualified. If this criteria is met, and an employer wishes to aim for a certain diversity ratio, they may use race as the tiebreaker. To declare the white population exempt from this position would be illegal.

Part 5 (work) does not prohibit [person] from taking action within subsection (3) with the aim of enabling or encouraging persons who share the protected characteristic to— (a) overcome or minimise that disadvantage, or (b) participate in that activity.

Subsection (2) of the Equality Act of 2010

That action is treating a person (A) more favourably in connection with [employment] than another person (B) because A has the protected characteristic but B does not.

Subsection (3) of the Equality Act of 2010

But subsection (2) applies only if— (a) A is as qualified as B to be recruited or promoted.

Excerpt of Subsection (4) of the Equality Act of 2010

Author’s Note: I am in no way a legal expert. I encourage those to read Chapter 2 of the Equality Act of 2010 themselves to verify (or correct) my interpretation.

About The Author: 
Nathan A. Kreider is the founder of NAKhub Media and columnist at Being Libertarian. His articles have also appeared at the Foundation for Economic Education, The Lock Haven Express, and The Liberalists, as well as his own website, nkreider.com.