Equal Opportunities ?

Many countries have some form of anti-discrimination legislation, especially governing employment. In Ireland, for example, there are nine grounds on which it is illegal to discriminate within employment. They are :

• Gender
• Marital status
• Family status
• Age
• Race
• Religion
• Disability
• Sexual orientation
• Membership of the Traveller community

So, where is this all leading? Well, I buy the local newspaper here most days as it’s a good way to practice my reading. The other day, I spotted this job advert :

For those of you whose Bahasa Indonesia is a little rusty, a loose translation is as follows :

Bank Muamlat, Kupang Branch, needs an employee with the following criteria :

1. Male, bachelor’s degree in law

2. Age max 27 years

3. Possesses a good Islam backround

Completed letters of application with a colour passport photograph should be sent to.....

I wonder how much the fine for that list would be at home?

I’ve also seen adverts in shop windows in Bali looking for employees – criteria : female, maximum 25 years old and don’t wear glasses !