The number of complaints from workers who felt they were discriminated against at work because of their race increased by 98 per cent last year, according to a report published today.
There were 85 complaints made to the Equality Tribunal last year compared to 43 in 2002.
The tribunal's annual report also notes that the number of complaints by workers in relation to gender increased by 55 per cent, from 69 to 107 last year. The number relating to disability fell by 18 per cent from 44 to 36 in 2003.
The tribunal received a total of 1,078 complaints of alleged discrimination last year, down 211 on 2002.
Overall, employment-equality complaints increased by 20 per cent from 300 in 2002 to 361 in 2003, while equal status complaints decreased by 28 per cent from 989 in 2002 to 717 in 2003.
The decrease in equal status complaints was put down to a dramatic decline in the number of cases taken by members of the Travelling community. On the other hand, equal status complaints in relation to race increased significantly from 26 in 2002 to 43 in 2003. Disability complaints also increased by 26 per cent from 50 to 63 in 2003, under the Equal Status Act.
The number of cases referred to the Equality Tribunal's mediation service increased by 64 per cent from 64 in 2002 to 105 in 2003. Of those, the numbers of cases resolved through mediation grew by 94 per cent from 33 in 2002 to 64 in 2003, a resolution rate of 61 per cent.