It is important that you know where to go to for help if you ever feel that you have faced discrimination or had unfair treatment when applying for a job.  

Employers are not allowed to treat people unfairly or to ask for qualifications or qualities that are not necessary for the job. For example an employer can’t insist that all applicants have beards just to get around gender equality laws!

There are several organisations you can contact for information and advice on your rights.

Your Careers Scotland Centre can help you with general information and advice. They will be able to identify which agency would be able to give you the right support.

Your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau can give advice and information on any aspect of discrimination or unfair treatment related to employment or job seeking.

Scottish Association of Citizens’ Advice Bureaux

Find your nearest office in the phone book, under ‘Citizens’ Advice’ or on the website: www.cas.org.uk/

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (CEHR) is a new organisation which provides information and guidance on discrimination and human rights issues. The CEHR brings together the work of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) (sex discrimination), the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) (racial discrimination) and the Disability Rights Commission (discrimination on the grounds of disability).

It also has responsibility for other aspects of equality: age, sexual orientation, religion and belief and human rights.

Equality and Human Rights Commission Helpline Scotland
Freepost RRLL-GYLB-UJTA
The Optima Building
58 Robertson Street
Glasgow G2 8DU
Tel: 0845 604 5510
Textphone: 0845 604 5520
Web: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/

There are several local Race Equality organisations in Scotland offering services.  These include:

The Ethnic Minority Enterprise Centre (EMEC) offers:

• employment counseling
• access to jobs and training
• help with jobseeking to people from ethnic minorities in the west of Scotland.

Ethnic Minority Enterprise Centre (EMEC)
40 Wellington Street
Glasgow G2 6HJ
Tel: 0141 221 4044
E-mail: rizwanahmed@emecglasgow.org.uk

The Health and Safety Executive operates an Information Helpline 08701 545 500 giving information and advice on all aspects of Health & Safety at work. (It does not deal with shops, hotels or restaurants, which are covered by Environmental Health Departments in local authorities.)

The Legal Services Agency (LSA) works to tackle a range of legal needs. Free advice is available by telephone most Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 11am to 1pm and there is a free drop-in surgery most Wednesdays from 2.00 - 4.00pm.

These free services cover all aspects of legal needs, including young peoples’ rights. Its solicitors provide a range of services covering all aspects of legal needs, including young people’s rights. Initial advice is always free and Legal Aid may be used if further action is needed.

Legal Services Agency
3rd Floor, Fleming House
134 Renfrew Street
Glasgow G3 6ST
Tel: 0141 353 3354
Fax: 0141 353 0354
E-mail: lsa@btconnect.com (do not include personal details in e-mails)
Web: www.lsa.org.uk

The Scottish Child Law Centre (SCLC) gives advice, information and training on all aspects of the law relating to children and young people under 18 years of age in Scotland.

Scottish Child Law Centre
54 East Crosscauseway
Edinburgh EH8 9HD
Tel: 0131 667 6333 or 0800 328 8970
Fax: 0131 662 1713
E-mail: enquiries@sclc.org.uk