How do I help a friend with systematic racism?
Hello, my dears 🙂 !
Here's the problem: A while ago, I ran into an acquaintance by chance in town and started talking about his current job search, which has been going on for years. He's originally from Iraq, has lived here for eight years now, and is in the process of obtaining permanent residency, and speaks good, easy-to-understand German (with a slight accent).
Since the coronavirus pandemic, I've unfortunately had to experience the secondary and tertiary labor markets here in Germany, at least indirectly. So, I wasn't surprised by the standardized rejections he received even for the simplest positions. And he puts in a lot of effort and time. But the following story got me thinking:
He had completed a retraining program at a nationally renowned company (the name is surely familiar to everyone here), but was the only one who hadn't received a certificate or exam results. He was also the only one who hadn't received the required uniform—available for the rest of the day on the second day—and was apparently still "in process" until after the training. People who—according to him—were significantly less committed than him, spoke less German (it's a service job), and whom he had to help a lot with exam preparation—allegedly managed to pass the exam almost as well as the best in their class.
Of course, I can only go by his own words, but I actually trust him a lot. And he's not a bad person, quite the opposite. What is certain, though, is that he's a devout Muslim who also acknowledges it, with a name that clearly reflects his origins. His appearance is also, of course, slightly Mediterranean. He also showed me photos: The supposedly best student in the class was a young, attractive Indian woman with a name that sounded quite pleasant to German ears—but I've forgotten it, sorry.
I suspect racist motives here. And that, mind you, despite the fact that the company in question, well-known in the media and nationwide, isn't exactly suffering from a surplus of staff. And I fear the situation could be similar in other areas. The problem, of course, is proving this.
Is there anything that can be done? Even if it's only indirectly? He's naturally, and rightly so, quite angry and is considering leaving Germany soon, if he can afford it. Besides, he's a smart guy who's already playing things less than they need be.
Thanks for answers :)!
(1 votes)
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Die Umschulung hat ja jemand finanziert und der besteht auf PrĂĽfungsergebnisse. Also sollte er sich sonst mal an die wenden.
Ebenso hätte ich mich an die Stelle gewand, die die Umschulung macht, wenn ich keine Kleidung bekomme, andere aber schon.
Ist das der einzige Grund, weshalb er Deutschland verlassen will, dann muss er es machen.
Nicht der einzige Grund. Da hat sich ĂĽber buchstäblich Jahre viel Frustration und Wut angestaut, was ich – teils aus eigener, weniger schlimmer Erfahrung heraus – auch verstehe. Die zuständige Stelle zu kontaktieren, habe ich ihm auch geraten; da braucht er vermutlich dann doch etwas Hilfe (notfalls meinerseits). Die deutsche BĂĽrokratie ĂĽberfordert ja schon den Deutschen regelmäßig.
This is the key point of your question. It’s just a guess.
Interestingly, there were no problems with other people from other countries.
That is why I think a closer look at the circumstances would be appropriate.
Well, of course I can’t offer it. I also thought more about prevention for future applications, retraining etc. – I should have written to it; I’ll change it. I do not suspect that – if there is a clear – this racism would be ideologically justified. It’s purely marketing. A good-looking Indian would be preferable, regardless of the grade, to a southern man in direct customer contact. These are only evidence, but in total it is important as I find.
Again. All you have is his statement. If this is so true, you don’t know.
That’s what you’re building a guess and you’re making it an accusation.
Well, I think if there were actually racism in the game, he wouldn’t have got this retraining.
It would be equally possible that his services were simply bad. This would also explain a lot.
Is quite likely, many people with non-German names have the problem
Can’t be. You’re right. Shouldn’t he have at least his results and the testimony?
Work even at a fairly large company. European, retail trade. We really have the whole world. Middle East, further east, absolute south and west is represented. Racism is absolutely misplaced.
I assume that it has absolutely nix to do with your colleague, only at the moment it is so that most companies are now working very slimy.
I don’t think you can tell the answer. Once accepted, he would have passed the examination – which, of course, may be wrong – would it not be set in any case in case of an acute lack of personnel? It’s logical.
Of course. If the person is good, it will be recorded.
It can also be related to the personality. Because even if the test is super, it doesn’t matter if the person is totally unhappy. That’s the least.
Thank you.
He does a training for a specific job and is then not taken. Another migrant gets the job. What’s the matter with racism? He is often discriminated as a man, but that is not justifiable. Maybe because of his behaviour or attitude. You weren’t there, were you?
I wasn’t there. But I think my thought – without insisting that he must vote – is quite admissible. “Rassism” does not mean that you don’t want any foreigners, but it can also mean that you want those who fit into the company profile. And there’s a pretty Asian in customer contact, of course, more nice than a canned man from the Middle East. But yes, I don’t know. Why shouldn’t gender discrimination be justifiable? There is equality, also by law.
Maybe you should check racism again in the Lexicon. In any case, this is not to be understood when a company hires the person who, in his view, is most suitable for the job.
Why?
No, he can’t.
Well, that’s a terminological question. Point for you in place. The core of the matter is that it has been sorted out on the basis of its origin.
Maybe it’s the current residence status. If a fixed residence permit is only in sight, he doesn’t have it yet. What’s he got?
To demonstrate racism to a company, if the best one was an Indian, is likely to be difficult.
That’s right. I don’t know exactly what he can do “officially” because I don’t know the terms. I’d have to ask him again. I know that he will take an exam at a time (in months?) which will probably decide on the next one. But I am not familiar with the formalities.