Race discrimination case | Ethnic minority staff at historic London parks launch legal fight over pay gaps

Cleaners at some of London’s historic parks are embarking on a landmark legal case, alleging their lower-paid work contracts amount to racial discrimination.

First reported by The Guardian, outsourced cleaning staff at the capital’s Royal Parks - a charity that manages some of London’s most famous green spaces such as Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park and Regent’s Park, were being paid less minimum wage up until 2019, when they staged a strike.

However, the in-house workforce at Royal Parks were paid at least the London living wage, according to reports. 

At that time, the London living wage was £10.75 an hour, compared to the minimum wage of £8.72.