A persistent form of discrimination in South Asia has been caste‐based discrimination. For example, this form confines Dalits to occupations often involving the most menial tasks, such as ‘manual scavenging’ or the removal of dead animals. Dalits are generally not accepted for any work involving contact with water or food for non‐Dalits or entering a non‐ Dalit residence. They are thus excluded from a wide range of work opportunities in the areas of production, the processing or sale of food items, domestic work and the provision of certain services in the private and public sectors (e.g. office helpers).

Limited access to education, training and resources, such as land or credit, further impair their equal opportunities for access to non‐caste‐based occupations and decent work. The deprivation stemming from discrimination in all areas of their life leads to higher levels of poverty among Dalits compared to non‐Dalits. Equally serious and pervasive is discrimination confronting indigenous peoples in the region, as in other regions. These peoples account for over 15 per cent of the world’s poor, although they make up 5 per cent of the world’s population. In Nepal, the indigenous peoples from the hill areas, the Hill Janajatis, lacking opportunities at home, make up the largest share of migrants working abroad (29 per cent) in countries other than India, and have the highest average remittance income (almost 35 per cent of annual household income). The growing numbers of migrant workers in the region face new forms of discrimination. Racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance are all reflected in low wages, long and exhausting working hours and violence.

In Japan, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance expressed concern in a 2006 report about discrimination against descendants of former Japanese colonies. Trade unions have taken important steps to address this; for example, Rengo, the largest union in Japan, has created a union for Chinese workers.

In Malaysia, the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) have put in place mechanisms to ensure better protection of the 1.5 million documented migrant workers living in the country. In Pakistan, official statistics show a growth since 2004 in the numbers of workers migrating from the tribal areas in search of jobs, mainly in the construction sector in the Gulf countries. Because of their limited access to official channels of migration and official travel documents, indigenous and tribal peoples appear to be more likely than other groups to become undocumented migrant workers. Indigenous women are especially vulnerable to falling prey to trafficking.

In China, the situation is slightly different, where a swell of rural migrants — an estimated 150 million — are labouring in the coastal cities but are finding it difficult to obtain permits largely due to the constraints of the hukou system. Owing to their social status, rural migrants suffer from institutionalised discrimination. In some cities, authorities deny them access to better jobs so they end up working in informal, low‐paid, menial jobs that urban workers refuse. Since rural migrant workers currently represent 40 per cent of the urban workforce, this will remain an important social and economic concern for China. In recent years, the Chinese government has taken important steps to help disadvantaged rural migrant workers, such as ensuring a guaranteed minimum wage, the enforcement of a labour contract system, as well as access to employment services and job training.

QUESTION

Imagine you were working for an organisation that supports these attitudes. Will the local beliefs be stronger than your sense of justice and diversity?