The Wire

A report released by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission reveals that an increasing number of people with criminal records are being discriminated against in the workplace. As more risk-averse employers request criminal record checks of potential employees , complaints to the Human Rights Commission have increased, with individuals claiming that they may have been bared from employment for merely being an ex-prisoner, regardless of the particular offense they committed or type of job they applied for. The report, titled ‘On the Record: Guidelines for the prevention of discrimination in employment on the basis of criminal record’, aims to achieve a balance between educating employers who may misunderstand anti-discrimination laws, and informing people with criminal records of their rights and obligations. The Wire’s Sasha Pavey spoke to ex-prisoner Tony about his experiences in trying to find employment as a person with a criminal record.