STAFF cuts at the government’s equality watchdog are disproportionately hitting ethnic minority and disabled workers, unions said as they walked out today.

Nine staff at the Equality & Human Rights Commission’s London headquarters are expected to be issued with compulsory redundancy notices imminently.

Today’s strike will be followed by walkouts on March 1 and 20, April 18 and May 17.Bosses are also seeking Cabinet Office permission to shed a further three jobs, according to Civil Service union PCS.

The union said 70 per cent of the affected staff are from ethnic minorities, 80 per cent are older workers and 30 per cent are disabled. The commission has the official task of monitoring and enforcing laws protecting such workers from discrimination.

PCS said it is considering legal action against the body as it believes staff have been targeted for their union involvement.

“There is no need for these workers to be sacked and we will continue to fight for them,” the union’s general secretary Mark Serwotka said.

“With such deep cuts, the government is hacking the commission off at its knees at precisely the time when we need a robust authority to tackle hate crime and discrimination.”

The commission’s budget has been slashed by almost 70 per cent since it was created in 2008.

It is expected that the budget will be cut by a further quarter over the next four years.

An EHRC spokesman said: “Like every public-sector organisation we have had cuts imposed on us and have to reduce headcount. We regret having to do this but have made sure the process has been fair, transparent and robust.

“The difficult changes we are making will ensure we can still deliver our ambitious programme and we will remain a robust and independent voice to protect people’s rights.”

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