Equal Employment Opportunities Öritenga Mahi Our goal Barriers to equal employment opportunities for vulnerable groups are eliminated so all people in New Zealand enjoy access to decent and productive work and fairness in the workplace The Commission continued to advocate for fair and equitable employment for all New Zealand workers. The challenges faced by New Zealand in relation to diversity and inclusion are around ensuring fairness and inclusion when hiring, equality of opportunity for training and promotion, and closing the persistent gender and ethnic pay gaps. The new EEO Commissioner started in November 2018. Part of the reported year’s activities are based on her activities as well as those of the previous EEO Commissioner. Commissioner Saunoamaali’i engaged with a wide range of stakeholders to establish networks and understand the barriers to equal employment and pay equity for different groups. Those engaged included National Council of Women, Rural Women, PACIFICA, WEPs (Women’s Empowerment Principles), Association of Employers and Manufacturers, Small Business Council and unions. The Commissioner also engaged with Members of Parliament and Ministers with portfolios for Pacific peoples, youth, women, seniors, social development, employment and workplace relations. Ageing workforce Ageism in the workforce is very real, hindering older people from going back to work, despite holding qualifications and a lifetime of experience relevant to the needs of our economy. Equal employment opportunities are lacking for this group of the population. Discrimination affects the length of time in work and the ability of individuals to save for retirement, especially Mäori and Pacific peoples, who we know from the ethnic and gender pay gaps are the lowest earners. This has been a focus for the EEO Commissioner and an area where the Commission will increase its advocacy. Pay transparency Pay secrecy and the lack of transparency about progression reinforces biases, and often hides structural inequalities. Improved transparency will benefit all workers – especially those discriminated against because of age, gender, ethnicity, disability and other grounds. Annual Report 2019 19