Employing black people as toilet tenants is 'demeaning'
The tenants, who have become a feature of pubs, nightclubs and hotels around the country, distribute paper towels to customers and sell items such as aftershave and perfumes.
The National Consultative Committee against Racism in Ireland (NCCRI) said it was concerned about the message it was sending out.
"I would certainly feel that the whole process is demeaning, and I would be concerned about what sort of rates of pay are being offered, if no Irish people want to do the jobs," its director Phillip Watt said.
Most of the toilet tenants are paid a nominal fee by the owner of the premises and make the majority of their income from tips.
Mr Watt said he believed many people were embarrassed into giving money to the toilet tenants.
"To me, it's highly reminiscent of apartheid in South Africa and the USA before civil rights. I think nightclub owners might think of doing this in a more sensitive way and maybe redeploy the people in areas which are less demeaning," he said.
- Michael Brennan
