Public Sector Equal Employment Opportunity: We have a lot of work to do - Human Rights Commission

The Human Rights Commission says we have a lot of work to do following the release of the latest report into the human resource capability of New Zealand’s public service.

“It’s disappointing to see little progress in equality of opportunity in our public service,” said EEO Commissioner Dr Jackie Blue.

“New Zealand’s changing face needs to be reflected equally across the state sector from the boardroom down. However the gender pay gap has expanded slightly while ethnic pay gaps show little change between 2010-2014.”

The State Services Commissions report Human Resource Capability in the New Zealand State Services, was released this week.

“At this rate New Zealand women will have to wait until 2029 before we make up 50% of senior leadership in our own public sector: right now we make up 60% of the public sector workforce,” said Dr Blue.

“There is good news in increased Maori representation in senior leadership up from 8.3% in 2010 to 12% in 2014: however Maori remain underrepresented compared to their overall numbers.”

Dr Blue says in the Human Rights Commission’s publication “What’s Working? Improving equal employment opportunities in the public service we noted:

“If you keep on doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep on getting what you’ve always got. Our case studies proved that when there’s a will to address EEO issues real, sustainable change is possible.”

The recommendations in What’s Working include target setting for which the State Services Commissioner and Chief Executives are accountable. Target setting appears to be necessary to ensure that strategies to address in inequalities are taken seriously.

Read “What’s Working” by going to: www.hrc.co.nz/eeo/whats-working-improving-equal-employment-opportunities-in-the-public-service

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