MSPs called on public bodies yesterday to publish data on their ethnicity pay gaps to help tackle racism. 

Holyrood’s equalities and human rights committee has been investigating what steps are being taken to ensure that black and ethnic-minority communities are not disadvantaged in employment and career progression.

A report by the committee charged there has been a “lack of progress” on the issue, despite various initiatives, and that minority communities are suffering from “consultation fatigue.”

Committee convener Ruth Maguire said: “The inquiry heard evidence that unemployment and in-work poverty remains disproportionately higher for people from minority ethnic communities than it is in the majority of the population.

“We are seriously concerned by the lack of progress in tackling this issue.

“It is extremely disappointing and frustrating that we regularly have to revisit this issue and it’s little wonder that, during our inquiry, we heard many witnesses and representatives of black and minority-ethnic communities refer to ‘consultation fatigue’.”

The report makes a number of recommendations, including more “positive actions” to address under-representation and new regulations compelling public bodies to publish ethnicity pay-gap data.

Many employers were “looking outwards rather than inwards” and failing to tackle cultures of institutional racism, the MSPs said.

Ms Maguire added: “Leaders of public authorities need to be accountable for their organisations’ record on employment of ethnic-minority people.

“They must demonstrate leadership in this area. Now is the time for them to take concerted, definitive action.”

A Scottish government spokeswoman said that it would consider the recommendations, recognising that “more needs to be done to address the barriers that prevent people from minority-ethnic communities from realising their true potential and accessing employment.”