Clear guidance for employers and staff is needed to banish sectarianism for the workplace according to a new report.

The report by Strathclyde University academics, for the STUC, said firms should be also legally required to monitor sectarian incidents at work, and wanted “clear guidance” on not dismissing prejudiced comments as workplace banter or humour.

It was noted that “real progress” has been made in reducing sectarianism but it remains a force in the Scottish workplace.

Fergus Ewing, community safety minister, welcomed the report yesterday as he took part in an anti-sectarian schools project in Glasgow.

He met pupils from St Benedict’s, Crookston Castle and St Marnock’s primary schools who delivered a joint performance for guests. The academics found that while reported examples of discrimination were not typical, they gave grounds for serious concern that in a few workplaces “various forms of blatant discrimination do still remain in force.”

The STUC report declared: “It was worrying to learn that in 21st-century Scotland examples of direct discrimination against Catholics could still be reported.

“It is also a concern that nothing was done about this in these places of employment.

“Trade union activists relayed these examples but they had initiated no action themselves.

“This is a revealing example of the way that sectarianism can become so embedded within the culture that although these informants disapproved of it, no opposition to its practice took place.”

Mr Ewing said: “Our strategy for tackling sectarianism is based on funding key projects and bringing together organisations to work together to send a clear message throughout the country that sectarianism is never acceptable and never excusable.”

He welcomed the STUC report and said the anti-sectarian group Nil by Mouth was mounting a workplace sectarianism project backed with £118,000 of Scottish Government funding.

The report called for clear anti-sectarian policies, for employers and unions to work together, and for workforces to be actively involved.

There should be clear guidelines on how sectarianism should be reported and the penalties that will apply.

An extreme example where a home owner would not allow a fire crew into his house if any were Catholics, was used to illustrate how serious the problem can be.

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