Plans to make companies bidding for public sector contracts have a quota system for ethnic minority workers have been slammed by business leaders. The Government announced last week that three pilot schemes were to be launched to encourage job opportunities for minorities in contracts awarded by certain central government departments. If successful, the schemes could be rolled out elsewhere, including to councils. Sally Low, from the British Chambers of Commerce, said: ‘We urge the Government to consign this idea to the silly season dustbin, where it belongs.’
