31 May 2012

Town Hall climbdown over plans to deduct pay of Muslim employee for time he takes to pray

THE Town Hall last night (Wednesday) backed down on plans to deduct five minutes worth of pay every time one of its Muslim employees takes a quick break to pray.

Children’s department chief Councillor Nash Ali said yesterday that he has asked for the deductions to be stopped after the council’s biggest union cried foul.

The move followed a dispute brought by Camden Unison, which claimed the worker concerned – in the play service – was effectively being penalised for his religious beliefs.

Camden is adamant that the case was not rooted in any religious prejudice and that the tone of the union’s claims, published on its website, had been “inflammatory”. [Camden New Journal] Read more