Employers back moves to increase numbers of Muslim working women

Employers have backed a positive action campaign to attract more Muslim women into the workplace.

Communities secretary Hazel Blears called on employers and local authorities to step up the number of projects that encourage Muslim women into work. About 800,000 are estimated to live in the UK, yet they are the most economically inactive group.

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In proposals aimed at empowering Muslim women, local businesses will be encouraged to use positive action to attract more into work. This could include setting up mentoring schemes and advice programmes, as well promoting job opportunities by using positive role models.

Rachel Krys, director of the Employers Forum on Belief, told Personnel Today: “For too long businesses have ignored the issue of religious groups in the workplace. It is scary territory – employers are worried about getting blamed for not including religious groups effectively at work, and so they tend to stay clear of it.”