A recent study by economists from the Australian National University, which included sending out 4000 identical fake resumes using Anglo-Sazon, Indigenous, Middle Eastern, Italian and Chinese names revealed that to receive the same number of interviews as a candidate with an Anglo-Saxon name, a Chinese applicant must submit 68 per cent more applications, a Middle Eastern applicant 64 per cent, an Indigenous applicant 35 per cent more and an Italian applicant 12 per cent more. Is this the new face of racism?
The focus of this week’s debate is on resume racism and the ignorance of some hiring managers.
These are the statements to be debated:
• Hiring managers are losing out on great candidates just because he or she adverse to the candidate’s name.
• Structural or systematic racism not only has costs to businesses and communities but also is lost opportunity costs in an economic and social sense.
• Everyone deserves a fair distribution of opportunities and equal representation in the labour market.
• Discrimination in the workplace will only lead to negative health and social impacts, which in turn creates a divided society.
Participants will be required to clearly state whether they are ‘for’ or ‘against’ the statement and provide their supporting arguments for the same.
To join the debate on Monday, September 8 at 4.30pm, send a request to readers@gulfnews.com
