By Godson Umejiego, Senior Correspondent, USA

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), will host a hearing on May 17 to examine discrimination based on race, national origin, and sex in construction and consider potential solutions to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sector.

The hearing, “Knocking Down Walls: Discrimination and Harassment in Construction,” will provide historical, statistical and experiential evidence of race- and sex-based harassment and discrimin­ation that has limited opportunities for Black, Asian, Hispanic, Native American and female workers in construction.

The hearing will also explore promising practices to prevent and address systemic discrim­ination so that historically marginalized workers can contribute to the US$1.2 trillion federal effort to improve America’s infrastructure.