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Thu 31 May 2012
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Supermarket supplier faces discrimination claims
Mon 15 Mar 2010
A company that supplies cooked meat to supermarket chain Asda has been accused of discriminating against British people.
Forza AW recently began recruiting for factory workers but stipulated that all applicants must be able to speak fluent Polish.
This has led to accusations from some quarters that Forza is discriminating against jobseekers whose first language is English.
However, the company has insisted that this particular requirement was included in the job advert by mistake and does not reflect its recruitment policy.
Chief executive Max Hillard stated that Forza would never turn down an English job applicant if they do not speak Polish or any other language.
He also said that all its training and health and safety briefings are carried out in both Polish and English, as well as in other languages if necessary.
David von Hagen, head of employment at Winckworth Sherwood Solicitors, said: "A requirement to speak fluent Polish would without question be indirectly discriminatory under UK law – perhaps Forza just made a mistake."
The UK has been a popular destination for Polish workers since Poland joined the European Union in May 2004.
