Framework for the Future Summary

These are the fourteen recommendations from the Framework for the Future report.

 

Towards Major Policy Change

 

Recommendation 1:

EEO advocates should work towards the introduction of legislation that places strong positive duties on all employers, starting with large organisations, to develop and implement EEO plans, and regularly report on the outcomes.

 

Recommendation 2:

Future EEO legislative initiatives, policy development, and implementation activities should be preceded by reflection on how best to reconcile EEO as a philosophy and practice with the Treaty of Waitangi.

 

Recommendation 3:

Any new legislative initiatives should be supported with the use of incentives to encourage positive changes and to discourage lack of action on the part of employers.

 

Recommendation 4:

Incentives-based models to promote EEO should be tested and refined in the public service, as part of a renewed commitment to EEO in the state sector. Urgent attention should be given to greater promotion of EEO in the health and education sectors.

 

Recommendation 5:

Efforts to compel private companies to establish EEO initiatives should ensure that the business benefits outweigh any compliance costs. New Zealand-based evidence should be developed to support the business case for widespread adoption of EEO initiatives.

 

Recommendation 6:

Any agency established to monitor EEO efforts should have sufficient resources to closely analyse EEO practices as well as the power to sanction bad practice and reward good practice. It should also have sufficient resources to track changing outcomes, assess and report on best practices, and work with organisations to help them achieve positive EEO outcomes.

 

 

Building on Current Strengths

Recommendation 7:

Actions by private interests to promote EEO should be encouraged. Branding and other innovative practices would allow organisations that exemplify EEO good practice to publicise their initiatives and advance their reputation among consumers and potential employees.

 

Recommendation 8:

The relationship between the Human Rights Commission and the EEO Trust should be assessed with an eye towards strengthening it. Future joint efforts between the two organisations could involve (1) building capacity for research and analysis, (2) sponsoring original research, and (3) improving information dissemination.

 

Recommendation 9:

EEO advocates should jointly explore with educators ways to improve the education outcomes of those who have been traditionally disadvantaged both in the education system and the labour force. For example, the Human Rights Commission could work with the Tertiary Education Commission to forge strategies to promote greater representation of women, people with disabilities, and racial and ethnic minorities across a range of training programmes.

 

Recommendation 10:

Political leaders, including Cabinet Ministers (especially those with responsibilities in areas such as State Services, Labour, Disability, Women, Senior Citizens, Pacific Island Affairs and Māori Affairs), should explore new ways to further promote EEO good practice in New Zealand, with the goal of making New Zealand a world leader in efforts that link the pursuit of human rights and human development with the pursuit of economic development.

 

Recommendation 11:

Public and private organisations should engage in coordinated efforts to promote greater public awareness of EEO as a philosophy and practice.  These should include (1) utilising best practice examples and (2) developing guidelines for small businesses.

 

Recommendation 12:

New efforts should be made to ensure that public service departments exhibit exemplary EEO practice.  These could be supported by new leadership, more resources, strong incentives for chief executives, the development of effective EEO training programmes for senior managers, and more comprehensive research and monitoring activities.

 

Recommendation 13:

Efforts should be made to develop a strong, diverse EEO advocacy coalition.  Members should focus on achieving social change, and should keep in close touch through on-going small conferences and task forces designed to explore EEO issues of specific interest to the New Zealand workplace.

 

Recommendation 14:

Support should be given to the on-going production of evidence-based research and the provision of statistical analysis relevant to the pursuit of EEO in New Zealand.  Efforts should also be made to develop a website-based facility where researchers can freely access datasets and other statistical sources relevant to EEO research.