In December 2023, RTE reported a ‘culture of racism’ was allegedly behind the demotion of an Indian manager at the security division of the managed services company, One Complete Solutions. Clients of One Complete Solutions include Irish Rail and Tesco, according to the article.

The allegations were made at a hearing under the Employment Equality Act, where the worker said he was demoted after punching a shop lifter in what the worker describes as self-defence. Disciplinary proceedings against another account manager also involved in the incident, who was not Indian, ended at the investigation stage with no sanction.

IBEC, on behalf of One Complete Solutions, said the worker was sanctioned on behalf of the investigation findings which found no wrongdoing on the part of the non-Indian manager.

The article also contains allegations of seemingly xenophobic verbal abuse by an account manager towards a security guard at Once Complete Solutions working at a Tesco site, and of discrimination against Indian managers over the provision of shift cover on a Tesco account.

In January 2024, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Tesco and Irish Rail to respond to the allegations of a ‘culture of racism’ at their contractor One Complete Solutions; to disclose the steps the companies have taken to investigate the alleged working conditions at One Complete Solutions; and to disclose any human rights due diligence the companies undertake prior to entering into contracts with security contractors specifically regarding principles of equality and non-discrimination.

Irish Rail's response can be read in full below. Tesco did not respond.