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Recruitment firms to carry out equality reviews

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has asked two recruitment companies used by public-sector bodies to carry out equality reviews. 

A statement from the commission said that Sigmar Recruitment and Staffline Recruitment had both accepted its invitations to conduct reviews of their services. 

The human-rights body can use its legal powers under section 32(1)(a) of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 to request such reviews.

IHREC said that the reviews would focus on the accessibility of the two firms’ recruitment processes for civil-service and public-service roles for candidates who have visual impairment, specifically in relation to the provision of job application forms and aptitude tests. 

Equality audits 

The commission points out that, under the Employment Equality Acts, an employer must take “appropriate measures” to meet the needs of disabled people in the workforce, adding that these obligations extend to employment agencies. 

As part of their equality reviews, the commission has asked each agency to: 

• Conduct an audit of the level of equality of opportunity that exists for candidates with a visual impairment in the recruitment of civil-service and public-service roles,
• Identify current practices, procedures, or other factors linked to the recruitment of such roles for those with a visual impairment,
• Assess the effectiveness of such practices, procedures, and other factors in relation to the equality of opportunity of job candidates with a visual impairment, and
• Outline any recommendations and/or findings from the equality review. 

“An effective and informed civil and public sector that aspires to deliver for all the people in Ireland, must be reflective of the society it serves, in all its diversity,” said IHREC chief commissioner Liam Herrick. 

“People with disabilities – including those with visual impairment – should be encouraged to join the sectors,” he added.