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Race claim over fake CV interview | Race claim over fake CV interview |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A Pakistan-born civil engineer claims he was granted a job interview by a company only when he sent a fake application under a Welsh name. | A Pakistan-born civil engineer claims he was granted a job interview by a company only when he sent a fake application under a Welsh name. |
Qamar Mohammed Malik, 49, claims Amec Group Ltd ignored his CV in November last year because of his foreign name. | Qamar Mohammed Malik, 49, claims Amec Group Ltd ignored his CV in November last year because of his foreign name. |
But Mr Malik, of Cardiff, said he had a positive response when he sent a false CV with inferior qualifications using the name Rhyddir Aled Lloyd-Hilbert. | But Mr Malik, of Cardiff, said he had a positive response when he sent a false CV with inferior qualifications using the name Rhyddir Aled Lloyd-Hilbert. |
The company denies race discrimination at an employment tribunal in Cardiff. | The company denies race discrimination at an employment tribunal in Cardiff. |
Mr Malik, whose family moved to Cardiff in 1967, is claiming Amec's office at Treforest, near Pontypridd, discriminated against him. | Mr Malik, whose family moved to Cardiff in 1967, is claiming Amec's office at Treforest, near Pontypridd, discriminated against him. |
It was a result of poor internal communications, not malicious intent Colin Jones, Amec Group | |
Mr Malik said Lyne Bowen, the Amec office manager, indicated it could find him work given his experience when he telephoned her before sending his CV for the first time. | Mr Malik said Lyne Bowen, the Amec office manager, indicated it could find him work given his experience when he telephoned her before sending his CV for the first time. |
After e-mailing his CV to Amec, Mr Malik was told by Ms Bowen on 8 November 2006 that the company had already seen his CV when it was forwarded by the Anders Elite agency and it had no suitable vacancies, the tribunal heard. | After e-mailing his CV to Amec, Mr Malik was told by Ms Bowen on 8 November 2006 that the company had already seen his CV when it was forwarded by the Anders Elite agency and it had no suitable vacancies, the tribunal heard. |
Unhappy with his rejection, Mr Malik, from the Cyncoed area of Cardiff, decided to compose a similar, but false, CV. | Unhappy with his rejection, Mr Malik, from the Cyncoed area of Cardiff, decided to compose a similar, but false, CV. |
On that, "Mr Lloyd-Hilbert" had an almost identical employment history but had fewer O-levels, no CSEs, and was slightly older than Mr Malik. | On that, "Mr Lloyd-Hilbert" had an almost identical employment history but had fewer O-levels, no CSEs, and was slightly older than Mr Malik. |
'Confront these demons' | 'Confront these demons' |
Mr Malik said the Treforest office of Amec responded "positively" to this application within three hours of it being e-mailed on 20 November. | Mr Malik said the Treforest office of Amec responded "positively" to this application within three hours of it being e-mailed on 20 November. |
The tribunal heard that Ms Bowen e-mailed "Mr Lloyd-Hilbert" a job description for a quality inspector, and after interest was confirmed in this role, a maximum salary of £33,000 was indicated. | The tribunal heard that Ms Bowen e-mailed "Mr Lloyd-Hilbert" a job description for a quality inspector, and after interest was confirmed in this role, a maximum salary of £33,000 was indicated. |
Speaking of his decision to send out a fictitious CV, Mr Malik told the tribunal that he deliberated hard before deciding to challenge the reply. | Speaking of his decision to send out a fictitious CV, Mr Malik told the tribunal that he deliberated hard before deciding to challenge the reply. |
He said it was "clearly at severe odds with the earlier telephone advice from Ms Bowen and also it smacked of the racism that I used to experience in the early 1980s". | He said it was "clearly at severe odds with the earlier telephone advice from Ms Bowen and also it smacked of the racism that I used to experience in the early 1980s". |
He added: "I may have felt it was now time to confront these demons. | He added: "I may have felt it was now time to confront these demons. |
"I now had children who may suffer this indignity in the coming years so I had to effectively challenge it now, otherwise what am I to say to them if they ask what I had done to combat this trend?" | "I now had children who may suffer this indignity in the coming years so I had to effectively challenge it now, otherwise what am I to say to them if they ask what I had done to combat this trend?" |
The tribunal heard Mr Malik owned up to sending the fictitious CV in a phone call to Amec's chief engineer in south Wales, Howell James. | |
During the conversation Mr Malik accused the company of being racially prejudiced by not considering his original CV. | |
"Mr James was very sniffy about my experience but he agreed upon review of my CV that I was suitable for the job as a quality inspector," said Mr Malik. | |
"I later received a letter from the company's human resources department offering me an interview." | |
But the tribunal heard communications broke down between Mr Malik and the firm when Mr James left the company. | |
Project director Colin Jones took over the matter and was briefed about Mr Malik's real application and the bogus one. | |
Mr Jones told the tribunal there was nothing malicious about Mr Malik not being considered. | |
"It was a result of poor internal communications, not malicious intent," said Mr Jones. | |
The construction arm of the Amec Group, which was bought by Morgan Est in July, denies the claim. | The construction arm of the Amec Group, which was bought by Morgan Est in July, denies the claim. |
The hearing continues. |