Photo courtesy of Tim Mossholder (unsplash.com)
5.
6.
In outlining these issues, the Commission
also encourages business to take up their
responsibility to respect human rights.
While many human rights are embedded
into New Zealand laws, they are not always
protected in day-to-day business activities,
whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Yet nearly all human rights are relevant to
business. A company’s operations can have
both a positive and negative impact on
many people, including employees, contract
workers, customers, suppliers and the wider
community.
The Commission urges Government to
carry out the review of the RSE scheme
with a human rights lens, with a view to
implementing a rights-based scheme as soon
as possible.
7.
Government has a duty to protect human
rights in business, and businesses also have
a duty to respect and uphold human rights
in their conduct. We encourage the business
leaders to consider how they can be part
of stamping out these negative practices
and contribute towards a practice where
business and human rights are not distinct.
8.
The Commission hopes that the analysis
and recommendations contained in this
report will be considered by all stakeholders
involved in defining and reviewing policy
and legislation relevant to the RSE scheme,
with a view to stamping out exploitation and
upholding the dignity and human rights of all
workers in New Zealand.
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