BRUSSELS – Turkish and Moroccan workers are facing discrimination in the Belgian employment market, a new study has shown.

The study by the national institute of statistics and Antwerp university shows a large discrepancy between employment rates of Belgians and citizens of a non-Belgian origin.

It reveals that 61 percent of Belgians between 16 and 24 have a job, comparing to 56 percent for European citizens, 51 percent for naturalised Belgians and just 26 percent of Moroccans and Turks.

The low employment figures among this group come despite more efforts from foreigners to find a job.

Around 38 percent of Moroccans and Turks are looking for a job, compared to 12 percent of EU citizens.

According to the study, 60 percent of unemployed foreigners have spent over a year looking for a job, compared with 48 percent of Belgians.

A number of factors come into play when looking at the figures, it says.

Lack of education is a primary reason as barely ten percent of Turks and Moroccans have a higher education certificate.

This also explains why this ethnic group is more engaged in manual work.

But the study also reveals that the educational factor does not provide the whole reason for the disparity between the figures.

Whatever qualification non-Europeans have, it is still more difficult to find a job.

Only five percent of Belgians with a degree are without a job, contrasting with 30 percent of foreigners with the same qualification.

[Copyright Expatica 2004]

Subject: Belgian news