A socio-legal study of the Swedish anti-discrimination policy and its implementation in the labour market : Discrimination against immigrants in the labour market and its affect

Abstract: Background: The point of departure for this study is that people with immigrant backgrounds are discriminated in the Swedish labour market and they are discriminated on several grounds. Discrimination is violation against human rights and it affects gender equality and integration policy negatively. Different studies show that immigrants hold the jobs which are lowest paid and not preferred by the swedes. The studies show also that immigrants from Africa and middle east are those who are discriminated most. This discrimination occurs despite the Swedish clear anti-discrimination policy and its regional and international obligations to combat discrimination. The Swedish discriminations act prohibits discrimination on the seven grounds mentioned in the act. This thesis analyses the Swedish discriminations act, its implementation and efficacy. It sheds some light on Sweden’s regional and international obligations in this regard. Finally, the impact of discrimination against immigrants on Swedish gender equality and integrations policy is discussed. Purpose: The purposes of this thesis are, based on the earlier studies, to highlight the ways in which immigrants are discriminated in the Swedish labour market and contributing to the improvement of the anti-discrimination policy in a long run. To accomplish this task, I have Scrutinized and analysed the efficacy of the Swedish discrimination policy, based on earlier studies, I have analysed different ways in which immigrants are discriminated in the Swedish labour market and discussed the impact of immigration on gender equality and integrations policy. Method: For conducting this research, qualitative method has been used. For accomplishing this study, both primary sources such as legal documents and legislations and secondary sources such as books, article, newspapers and internet websites have been used. To achieve this task, I have used intersectional analysis, and this is because immigrants are discriminated on multiple grounds and intersectional perspective is the best perspective in analysing such grounds. Conclusion: Based on earlier studies, the idea that people with immigrant background are discriminated in Swedish labour market is supported. They are discriminated in different ways such as recruitment process, in salaries, working conditions and promotion process. Discrimination can be due to different reasons and based on different grounds. According to the studies, though discrimination affects immigrants in general, immigrants from Middle east and Africa most discriminated. The same studies show that Muslim women who can be identified as Muslims due to headscarves, burqa or niqab are discriminated most and the face harassment in the public areas. Additional findings in this thesis are that discrimination in general is obstacle to gender equality and integrations policy given that it widens the already wide gap between women and men as well as between immigrants and swedes. Besides this, discrimination in the criminal system also leads to discrimination in the labour market. This is because prejudices based on the reports of biased police, judges, prosecutors etc. lead to discrimination against immigrants by relating them to crime. Therefore, though it is not deeply studied, there is a significant correlation between discrimination in the criminal legal system and discrimination in the labour market.