20. States should adopt measures to reduce unemployment rates among
persons belonging to national minorities, especially in economically
disadvantaged regions. Measures should be instituted to ensure fair pay
for all without discrimination and promote inclusivity in the formal labour
market. States should disseminate labour law standards and information
to national minorities in a language and in terms they can understand.
Measures should be instituted to promote the inclusion of minority youth
and women in the formal labour market, including through internships
and paid parental leave.
Unemployment among persons belonging to national minorities is a major barrier
to the social and economic participation of national minorities. It can lead to the
exclusion and isolation of individuals and entire groups, and impedes their ability to
contribute to their society. Furthermore, high unemployment rates among national
minorities can exacerbate societal divisions, hindering the integration and cohesion
of diverse communities.115
States should ensure that everyone has equal opportunities for employment in both
the private and the public sectors.116 Disparities in employment should be analysed
based on reliable disaggregated data to identify and address any barriers to the
employment of persons belonging to national minorities. Alongside comprehensive
anti-discrimination legislation, measures should be instituted to promote inclusivity
in the labour market. These might include employer incentives, public‑private
partnerships, fiscal policies such as increased government spending or corporate
tax breaks, language training, issuance of guidance for employers on their scope
for taking positive action, and the reasonable accommodation of persons with
special needs in the workplace.117
Where needed, targeted measures should be implemented to overcome barriers to
employment for particularly disadvantaged groups, such as stateless people, and
women and youth belonging to national minorities.118 Measures should be instituted
to promote the inclusion of youth and women belonging to national minorities in
the labour market, including through internships, training programmes, childcare
115 Ljubljana Guidelines, Guideline 40.
116 Ljubljana Guidelines, Explanatory Note to Guideline 40.
117 Ljubljana Guidelines, Explanatory Note to Guideline 40; and ECRI, General Policy Recommendation
No. 14: Key Topics, Combating Racism and Racial Discrimination in Employment.
118 See inter alia FCNM AC, Commentary on Participation, paragraph 36; and CRPD, article 27.
Recommendations on the Effective Participation of National Minorities in Social and Economic Life
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