The world’s largest soft drinks manufacturer has announced new plans to improve its equal opportunities policies.
Coca-Cola, which is engaged in a United States legal case filed by a
group of black employees and former staff members over alleged
discrimination in pay, promotion and performance reviews, says the
policies will be drawn up in the next few months.
New
Coca-Cola chief executive Douglas Daft, who joined the company in
February, has said he plans to create a new senior post of director of
diversity strategies.
The move follows growing pressure on
Coca-Cola from ethnic minority pressure groups, most recently at the
company’s annual general meeting in April.
The National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has said it
may consider launching a boycott of Coca-Cola products in the United
States over the company’s alleged workplace discrimination.
Daft’s announcement was welcomed by Lamar Mixson, one of the lawyers
pressing the case against Coca-Cola. ‘If the company makes honest, bold
reforms in its past practices, that would be a step forward,’ he said.
