Anti-discrimination chief calls for tougher sanctions

“We need tougher sanctions,” Christine Lüders told the Süddeutsche Zeitung on Tuesday, saying unequal treatment “harms us and our competitiveness.”

Germany’s General Equal Treatment Act, which went into force in 2006, protects certain people against discrimination including homosexuals and religious or ethnic minorities.

But although penalties can be levelled against violators, Lüders said they’re not enough.

“If somebody is illegally rejected from nightclubs or gyms, then a €100 fine doesn’t hurt the operators,” she told the Süddeutsche, saying compensation is also much too low for people illegally dismissed from jobs.

Lüders also argued that victims should have more time than the current two months to file discrimination complaints, and it should be easier for the government or interested agencies to sue alleged violators.

DPA/The Local/mdm