Gill Sukhdashan Singh, the Sikh bus driver that has been denied the right to wear a turban at work by his employer, told Migrant Tales that transport workers union AKT will take Veolia bus company to court concerning the matter.
Helsingin Sanomat, Finland’s largest daily, has been following the story closely. Read full story here.
The decision to take Veolia to court was made after the Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency (Avi) stated that the ban by Veolia to wear a turban ban was discriminatory.
The bus company has not changed its position concerning the turban ban despite two recommendations by Avi.
“I’ve been in touch with a lawyer from AKT, which will take this case to court as discrimination at the workplace,” Sukhdashan Singh said. “I’ll be on holiday in January and the case will begin in February.”
The case is one of the most important this year in Finland concerning cultural diversity.
The problems that the Sikh busman faces at work is a good example of how far Finland lags behind other European countries concerning cultural diversity. Sikh bus drivers in England won such rights over forty years ago in 1969.