California law bars discrimination against Sikhs, Muslims at work

California law bars discrimination against Sikhs, Muslims at work

Washington, September 10
California Governor Jerry Brown has signed two bills aimed at battling workplace discrimination against Sikhs and Muslims by shunting workers wearing turbans, beards and hijabs to backroom jobs out of public view.

"This bill, AB 1964, makes it very clear that wearing any type of religious clothing or hairstyle, particularly such as Sikhs do, that that is protected by law and nobody can discriminate against you because of that," Brown told an enthusiastic crowd of 500 Sikhs Saturday, the Sacramento Bee reported.

"Breaking down prejudice is something you've got to do every day, and to help us do that, I'm going to sign a couple of bills," he said at a rally of the North American Punjabi Association on the steps of the Capitol in the state capital of Sacramento.

"Sikhs everywhere can see in California they are a powerful presence," he was quoted as saying.

The Workplace Religious Freedom Act, Assembly Bill 1964 by Democrat Mariko Yamada, ensures that employees receive equal protection under law, protecting workers who wear turbans, hijabs and yarmulkes. In California, employers faced over 500 cases of religious discrimination in 2011.

Brown also signed Senate Bill 1540, sponsored by Democrat Loni Hancock changing how history and social sciences are taught in schools so that students learn about the history, tradition and theology of California Sikhs. — IANS