Racial discrimination towards Asian operatives in the Australian construction industry

Abstract

This paper investigates racial discrimination towards Asian operatives in the Australian construction industry. It explores the extent of this discrimination, the form it is taking, the impact it is having and how it is being managed. The paper reveals an assimilationist culture which largely ignores the needs of ethnic minority groups and fails to harness the positive attributes of multiculturalism. Ironically, in comparison with other industries, the construction industry is relatively well placed to benefit from cultural diversity, and a number of suggestions are made to help companies achieve this. These suggestions are of value to managers in other countries because racism is not a problem that is unique to the Australian construction industry.

Keywords:

• Racism
• Discrimination
• Asian
• Culture
• Diversity
• Behaviour
• Australia