Legal Loophole Allows Genetic Discrimination in the Workplace, says TUC

GeneWatch UK, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the British Council of Disabled People (BCODP) today (25 September 2003) warned that the law must be changed to prevent employers from refusing people jobs on the basis of genetic test results. A new GeneWatch report, 'Genetic Testing in the Workplace' (available to members at www.genewatch.org), is published today as the Human Genetics Commission (HGC) meets to consider the Government’s response to its recommendations on genetic discrimination. The GeneWatch report reveals that:

- Genetic tests cannot accurately predict which workers will suffer future disability or illness. Many false test results are likely.

- Despite their poor predictive value, many employers wish to use genetic test results and many research projects are seeking to identify people who are ‘genetically susceptible’ to workplace hazards.

- If genetic tests were used, large numbers of people would need to be excluded from employment to try to prevent a single case of workplace illness. Workplace hazards affect everyone - not just people with ‘bad genes’ - so the remaining workers would still be at risk.

- People with adverse genetic test results but no symptoms are not protected by the existing Disabilities Discrimination Act.

In 2000, an Institute of Directors report found that 50% of employers responding to a questionnaire thought it would be appropriate to conduct genetic testing to see if employees are at risk of developing an occupation-related disease due to exposure in the workplace and 34% thought it would be appropriate to discover if they will develop heart disease which might affect sickness or early retirement.
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