WRC dismisses Olumide Smith’s Equal Status complaint against department

The WRC dismissed Olumide Smith’s Equal Status complaint against The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, finding it had no jurisdiction to hear the case. The decision was dated 2 December 2021. Smith alleged race discrimination in the conduct of two adjudication hearings and argued the department was responsible for the adjudicators’ conduct. The adjudication officer found that the hearings and decision-making were not a service covered by the Equal Status Act, and that the department could not be held vicariously liable for the alleged conduct. The complaint was dismissed as misconceived; the merits were not decided.