UK NRI
was awarded £5,000 compensation after being racial discrimination
London, Nov 28, 2007
NRI press
Ravi Singh
NRI Chetankumar Meshram, 27, resident of Northampton,
who was sent to work as a trainer in Indian call center firm Talk
Talk Direct’s Delhi office.
He was dismissed from his job by his British employers
because his accent “wasn’t English enough.”
He was being sent back to England just three weeks into a two-month
contract.
Mr Meshram brought his claim for racial discrimination
before an employment tribunal with the help of the Northamptonshire
Racial Equality Council. Bedford Employment Tribunal found that
he had suffered both direct and indirect discrimination and awarded
£5,000 compensation for hurt feelings and expenses incurred
during his trip to India. He still works for Talk Talk Direct.
Meshram said:
- I was called into a meeting with my boss, who told me that
I was to be replaced with a better English speaker.
- I was born in India, and moved to Britain in 2005. I have
spoken English since the age of 2 years
- I know I speak with an accent but my job out there's to give
technical advice, not to give expertise on how to communicate.
It was an embarrassing and humiliating experience.
- I hope that this ruling will encourage people to select employees
to carry out work based on their skills and knowledge regardless
of what country they live or work in.
Mr. Christopher Fray of Racial Equality Council
said that Mr Meshram is an extremely friendly, intelligent, and
efficient worker. It is sad that he has had to endure humiliation
because he has an Indian accent
