The five coalition parties (GroenLinks, CU, PvDD, PvdA and SP) want to know how the city council is tackling discrimination in the municipal workplace. The parties ask questions in writing.
The reason is a recently published report of the Hotlines Discrimination which shows that there is more discrimination at work than on the street and that racism is the main ground of discrimination. “We have no illusions that the municipality of Groningen is free from discrimination,” says Jeffey van Hoorn, leader of GroenLinks.
The GroenLinks councilor (like his four fellow party leaders) does not want to respond to one recent verdict which shows that the Director of Work and Integration may have made discriminatory statements about Moroccans. “These statements and also the verdict are part of a case that is still before the courts. That, and the fact that it can be traced back to individuals, means that we cannot respond to this.”
It goes without saying that any form of discrimination is unacceptable, says Van Hoorn. “Even on the work floor within our own organization. We are therefore working on written questions about discrimination in the workplace, for example: What is the state of affairs within the municipal organization, what is the policy of the municipality to actively counter this within the organization, how do we encourage reports, but also, for example, the collaboration with Discrimination Reporting Center Groningen?
In addition to the five coalition parties, Dennis Ram of the PVV also responded to a request for comment on the verdict. “I think that discrimination is not allowed,” says Ram. “That applies to Moroccans and also to Stadjers. I do think that if there is a problem, you should be able to raise it.”