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10 point check list for prospective employers of migrants:

• Changing recruitment attitudes and practices to give migrants a go
• Talking to prospective employees before they come to New Zealand
• A good training and induction system in place for new migrants as well as other employees
• Different religious beliefs can be accommodated through good communication and workplace flexibility
• Languages other than English can be spoken where it does not compromise health and safety and essential work practices
• Helping migrants improve English language competencies helps boost business productivity
• Diversity of staff can be seen as an added value for co-workers in understanding different cultures
• Migrant workers can offer competitive advantage to new clients and customers
• Migrant workers approach employment with appreciation rather than expectation and exhibit a strong work ethic
• Zero tolerance of racial discrimination in the workplace must be led from top management.

The Brain Gain report published by the Human Rights Commission profiles best practice examples and profiles migrant workers in different occupations and working in different regions of New Zealand.

The Human Rights Commission has developed an on-line reporting tool to make it easier for state sector organisations to create foundation documents for Annual Reports, Statements of Intent, Action Plans and employee feedback.

The tool developed specifically to allow Crown entities report more easily on good employer obligations, is available to any public or private sector organisation.

The lockout of women from company boardrooms is undermining corporate governance, according to the New Zealand Census of Women's Participation 2008. The 2008 report reveals that sixty of the top 100 companies on the New Zealand Stock Exchange have no women on their boards. There are only 45 women on the boards of the top 100 companies listed on the NZ Stock Market, and they add up to only 8.65% of the 624 board directorships available.

What's new: Latest EEO news and information

From Brain Drain to Brain Gain

Employers of skilled migrants in New Zealand have identified a ten point check list for successful workplace relations.

These include zero tolerance of racial discrimination in workplaces through to accommodating religious diversity at work, according to a new publication, Brain Gain: Migrant Workers in New Zealand, published today by the Human Rights Commission

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And how much does the other half earn?

New data shows that the equal pay debate in New Zealand remains a top equal employment opportunity priority in New Zealand.

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On-line Reporting Tool

A new, free tool to help employers profile their workforce is now available on-line from the Human Rights Commission.

“This is a fantastic, on-line initiative that will enable employers to see who they employ and look at things like the age of their workforce, the number of women, and the diversity of their employees and managers,” says EEO Commissioner Dr Judy McGregor.

“It also allows organisations to report on and assess their EEO initiatives and should make it easier to tell staff what is happening in their organisation.”

“The tool has a unique Star Graph function which shows organisation how well they are doing in being good employers, based on their own self assessments.”

NZ Census of Women's Participation 2008

Sex and power in New Zealand boardrooms
It is now more than thirty years since sex discrimination legislation came into force in New Zealand. New Zealand women have made significant progress in education, the workplace, the professions, politics, and public life. We rate very highly in international comparisons such as the Global Gender Gap Report produced by the World Economic Forum and in other United Nation’s scorecards.

But despite increased labour market participation and the achievements of individual inspirational female role models, New Zealand lags behind other similar developed countries in corporate governance, and in some areas of professional and private life. So much so that New Zealand’s progress towards gender equality may have slowed or stalled, and in some cases is even going into reverse.

Photo of Trish Taiaora on packing factory line with other female factory workers

Photo of Cec O'Dell at a conference table in a wheelchair

Photo of Rohan Jaduram, outside in Auckland CBD

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What's new: Latest EEO news and information