Brussels – The Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities, Unia, has recorded 643 cases of racism in Belgium in 2024, averaging nearly two cases per day.
The majority of these incidents were related to discrimination in workplaces, employment relations, and recruitment, the organization reported.
According to Unia, just under a third (29%) of all racism complaints originated from professional environments, including cases of unfair dismissals, workplace bullying, and discriminatory hiring practices.
The organization reiterated its call for anonymous job applications and testing to help combat the ongoing issue.
“This translates into problems with colleagues, customers, managers, as well as discriminatory refusals to hire someone or unfair dismissals,” Unia stated.
“It also often involves bullying: for example, some people resign because they are regularly insulted because of their origin.”
Unia also highlighted instances where candidates with foreign-sounding names failed to receive responses to job applications but were later invited for interviews when applying under a name perceived as more traditionally Belgian.
Racism in Healthcare and Housing
Beyond the workplace, about 19% of racism-related complaints involved housing, healthcare, and transportation.
These included cases where landlords refused to rent properties to certain individuals and allegations of discrimination by healthcare providers.
Unia conducted a study on racism in healthcare, revealing that victims of discrimination often feel they receive inferior treatment from medical professionals.
The report found that due to these experiences, affected individuals tend to delay seeking medical care.
Rise in Anti-Semitism Linked to Global Events
Another 19% of the recorded cases in 2024 were related to broader societal issues, including an increase in anti-Semitism. Unia noted that since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023, the number of anti-Semitic incidents has risen sharply.
Despite these concerns, the overall number of racism-related cases in Belgium showed a slight decline compared to the previous year. In 2023, Unia had documented 670 cases, indicating a modest reduction in reports.
Calls for Stronger Anti-Discrimination Measures
While the decrease in cases might suggest progress, Unia warns that workplace discrimination and societal racism remain persistent problems requiring stronger policy responses.
The organization continues to advocate for stricter enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and proactive measures, such as anonymous hiring processes, to ensure equal opportunities.
With racial discrimination affecting multiple aspects of daily life, Unia urges both policymakers and employers to take more decisive action in addressing inequalities and fostering an inclusive society.
