Seattle Bans Caste Discrimination [UPSC Current Affairs]

The Seattle City Council in the United States has passed legislation prohibiting discrimination based on caste in the workplace and places of public accommodation. Know more about this development and the implications for the Indian community in the US in this article. This is a relevant topic for the UPSC exam.

Seattle Ban on Caste Discrimination

Seattle has passed a historic piece of legislation making it the first city in the United States to prohibit discrimination based on caste. 

• The legislation was introduced in the Seattle City Council and was passed with a 6-1 vote. 
• It aims to prevent businesses from discriminating against individuals based on their caste with regard to wages, tenure, promotion, hiring and workplace conditions.
• The new law will also prohibit caste-based discrimination in places of public accommodation, such as hotels, public transportation, retail establishments, and public restrooms. The law will apply to mortgage loans, property sales and rental housing leases.
• According to Equality Labs, caste discrimination has become a significant contributor to workplace bias and discrimination. Their data indicates that one in four caste-oppressed individuals have faced physical and verbal assault, one in three have experienced discrimination in education, and two in three have faced workplace discrimination.
• The legislation has been praised by Dalit groups across the US. 
• However, some organizations like the Hindu American Foundation have opposed it, arguing that it unfairly targets Hindu Americans for additional legal scrutiny.
• Washington state is home to over 167,000 people from South Asia, with the majority living in the Greater Seattle area.

Why have Hindu groups opposed this legislation?

Some Hindu organisations have opposed this move based on the following factors:

• This tends to polarise the Indian American community and there is a probability of other cities following suit.
• They argue that it can lead to more anti-Hindu discrimination in the United States.
• This legislation could also possibly discourage people from employing South Asians.

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