Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - New Zealand (Ratification: 1983)

In its previous observation, the Committee noted that, following the repeal of the Employment Equity Act, 1990, the Government established a Working Party on Equity in Employment to evaluate equal employment opportunity initiatives and report to the Government on the most effective means of developing and implementing its equity in employment policy. The Working Party's report, dated January 1991, discussed equal employment and training opportunities for women, the Maori people, Pacific Island people, people with disabilities and other groups identified as disadvantaged and contained key recommendations on the enactment of legislation requiring employers to develop, implement and monitor equal employment opportunities programmes, as well as on the establishment of a Council for Equity in Employment funded jointly by the Government and the private sector. The Committee notes from the information supplied by the Government in July 1991 and in its last report that the Government prefers a non-legislative approach to equality in employment. It preferred the creation of a joint private/public sector Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) Trust, funded by government and employer contributions, to develop and promote EEO policies and practices, as well as research in this area, primarily in the private sector. The Trust is to report annually to Parliament on its activities and the progress achieved towards the development and implementation of EEO policies and practices in the private sector. The Government also established an Equal Employment Opportunities Fund for the promotion of EEO programmes and practices in the private sector.

The Committee notes that the Government intends to monitor progress achieved towards an equal employment opportunities environment in the private sector through the educational, promotional and research work of the EEO Trust and the results of the projects supported by the EEO Fund, and requests it to provide, in its next report, full information concerning (i) equal employment opportunity plans in the private sector and (ii) the activities of and the results achieved by the EEO Trust and the EEO Fund in the promotion and implementation in practice of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment as well as equal access to education and vocational training.