THE Indian High Commission in London on Tuesday (21) celebrated the eighth International Day of Yoga at BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden. Besides Indian high commissioner HE Gaitri Issar Kumar, Lord Rami Ranger and East Harrow member of parliament Bob Blackman addressed the gathering.
Yoga enthusiasts from all over London joined the celebrations.
HE Gaitri Issar Kumar, the Indian high commissioner to UK, speaks during the International Yoga Day celebrations at BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, London, on June 21, 2022. (Picture: Indian High Commission in London)
The high commissioner underlined the contribution of yoga towards well-being and encouraged the participants to make it a part of their daily regime. Lord Ranger called yoga India’s gift to the world while Blackman shared his positive experience with yoga.
East Harrow member of parliament Bob Blackman speaks during the International Yoga Day celebrations at BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, London, on June 21, 2022. (Picture: Indian High Commission in London)
The event continued with sessions on Common Yoga Protocol, balance postures performance by young World Yoga champion Master Ishwar and ‘pranayam’ (breathing exercises).
Yoga enthusiasts take part in International Yoga Day celebrations at BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, London, on June 21, 2022. (Picture: Indian High Commission in London)
International Yoga Day celebrations were also hosted by Indian consulates in Scotland and Wales and local yoga organisations in Northern Ireland.
Indian high commissioner to UK HE Gaitri Issar Kumar and British parliamentarian Bob Blackman with participants at the International Yoga Day celebrations at BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, London, on June 21, 2022. (Picture: Indian High Commission in London)
Earlier, in the run up to the International Day of Yoga 2022, The Indian High Commission and consulates in the UK organised yoga sessions at some iconic locations in London -- including Holland Park.
World Yoga champion Master Ishwar performs at the International Yoga Day celebrations at BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, London, , on June 21, 2022. (Picture: Indian High Commission in London)
Also for the first time, the Yoga Day was hosted at a British Army establishment -- the Wellington Barracks in Central London -- where there was enthusiastic participation by people who also requested for more sessions.
English questioning rose from 20 per cent to 31 per cent, and racist jokes from 36 per cent to 41 per cent
Workplace violence against Black and ethnic minority employees rises to 26 per cent
Highlights
The Trades Union Congress surveyed 1,044 Black, Asian and ethnic minority employees. The results show clear increases in racist behaviour between 2020 and 2026.
Workers having their English questioned rose from 20 per cent to 31 per cent. Those hearing racist jokes went up from 36 per cent to 41 per cent.
Racist comments made to workers or around them increased from 31 per cent to 36 per cent.
Violence and threats
The most worrying finding involves physical threats and violence, which jumped from 19 per cent to 26 per cent.
Racist posts shared on workplace social media grew from 22 per cent to 28 per cent. Racist materials being passed around increased from 19 per cent to 25 per cent.
Beyond direct racism, many workers face unfair treatment. Nearly half (45 per cent) said they get harder or less popular jobs.
Over two in five (43 per cent) receive unfair criticism. The same number (41 per cent) stay stuck on temporary contracts.
Work conditions got worse too. Those not getting enough hours rose from 30 per cent to 40 per cent.
Workers denied overtime went from 30 per cent to 37 per cent. Being kept on short-term contracts increased from 33 per cent to 41 per cent.
Direct managers cause most unfair treatment (35 per cent), followed by other managers (19 per cent).
Bullying mainly comes from direct managers (30 per cent) and colleagues (28 per cent). Racist behaviour mostly comes from colleagues (33 per cent) and customers or clients (22 per cent).
Paul Nowak, TUC general secretary, said: "Black and ethnic minority workers are facing appalling and growing levels of racism and unfair treatment in Britain. This racism is plaguing the labour market – and it's getting worse."
The TUC is calling for urgent government action to tackle the problem. The union wants ring-fenced funding for the Equality and Human Rights Commission to enforce workplace protections.
It is pushing for mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting for companies with over 50 employees.
The TUC says the Employment Rights Act, which makes employers responsible for protecting workers from harassment by customers and clients, will be an important step forward.
The union also wants employers to treat racial harassment as a health and safety issue and monitor ethnicity data across recruitment, pay and promotions.