Workplace Bullying and Harassment 25. Workplace bullying and harassment remain a problem for women’s equal employment opportunities.56 Currently, the onus remains on a woman who has suffered the negative behaviours to raise a complaint and commence litigation against an employer. A Bill has been introduced to extend the timeframe available for raising a personal grievance based on sexual harassment.57 New Zealand has not ratified ILO Violence and Harassment Convention (C 190) which acknowledges that gender-based violence and harassment disproportionately affects women in the workplace. Recommendations: (a) Provide information on measures requiring workplaces to identify, prevent and remedy violations of women’s right to a safe, non-discriminatory work environment. (b) What steps has the government taken to review Workplace Safety and Accident Compensation laws to enable victims of workplace bullying and harassment access to timely physical and mental health support, and compensation where appropriate. (c) Provide information on any steps the government has taken to ratify ILO Violence and Harassment Convention (C 190). Adequate Standard of Living (Article 14) Housing 26. Despite initiatives from government, New Zealand’s housing crisis has worsened and remains a key concern.58 Median house prices have risen significantly despite the ongoing pandemic.59 Available housing stock across the country is at its lowest in 14 years.60 This is coupled with low quality housing stock.61 This housing crisis is being experienced most acutely by particular groups of women and girls, including Pacific and other ethnic minorities, disabled, single mothers, elderly and those living in poverty. Wāhine Māori face discrimination in accessing adequate and affordable housing.62 The housing 56 57 58 59 61 62 Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment “Bullying and Harassment at Work: Issues Paper – An In-depth Look” (2020) https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/11515-bullying-and-harassment-at-work-issues-paper-in-depth-look. The Commission’s Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner has also engaged with workers, employment advocates, employment lawyers, and senior government officials on how workplace bullying and harassment (which includes sexual and racial harassment) exists as a barrier to women’s equal employment opportunities. The Commission seeks to better understand how government can have a greater role in the prevention of workplace bullying and harassment in the workplace and create better response systems in the hopes of eliminating all forms of violence in the workplace. It proposes to extend the timeframe from 90 days to 12 months. New Zealand Parliament “Employment Relations (Extended Time for Personal Grievance for Sexual Harassment) Amendment Bill” (May 2022) https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/53SCEW_SCF_BILL_116380/employment-relationsextended-time-for-personal-grievance. See the Commission “Housing Inquiry First Report: Strengthening Accountability and Participation in the Housing System” (December 2021) https://www.hrc.co.nz/files/2716/3944/7313/Housing_Inquiry_Strengthening_Accountability_and_Participation_FINALcompressed.pdf. From January 2021 to January 2022, prices increased by 27.5%. See Stuff “House price rises are not out for the count just yet, CoreLogic says” (2 February 2022) https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/housingaffordability/127652730/house-price-rises-are-not-out-for-the-count-just-yet-corelogic-says. Radio New Zealand “Available housing stock lowest in 14 years” (2 August 2021) available at https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/448242/available-housing-stock-lowest-in-14-years. For example, about 28,000 homes in New Zealand were reported to be always damp and always have visible mould: Stats NZ and the Building Research Association of New Zealand (Branz) “Housing in Aotearoa: 2020” (2021) https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Reports/Housing-in-Aotearoa-2020/Download-data/housing-in-aotearoa2020.pdf. Stats NZ “Housing in Aotearoa: 2020” (December 2020) https://www.stats.govt.nz/reports/housing-in-aotearoa-2020. 11