California employers: To the ever-growing list of characteristics that are receiving protection under anti-discrimination laws, you may soon be adding caste. The legislature in California passed a bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of caste in employment (and housing and schools).
“Caste” is defined as a system of classification based on birth and ancestry that mostly involves people of South Asian origin but can also involve people from other parts of the world.
California would be the first state to include caste in the list of protected categories (the City of Seattle has already done so). If the governor signs the bill, expect that other states and cities to respond in kind.
To read the text of bill SB 403, see here: Bill Text – SB-403 Discrimination on the basis of ancestry.