•
Pay disparities between different ethnic groups, where employees from
minority or migrant ethnic groups are paid significantly less compared to
their counterparts from the dominant ethnic group, despite doing the same
role and having similar or greater knowledge, skills and experience (Came et
al., 2020)
•
Exclusion and marginalisation of migrants’ knowledge, authority and skills in
the workplace
•
Worker exploitation - temporary migrants may be less likely than Aotearoa
New Zealand citizens and residents to speak up for their rights out of fear,
desire to gain permanent residency, or because they were deceived by their
employer or unaware of their rights (Stringer, 2016)
•
A lack of consideration for the diverse needs of migrants in the workplace:
For example, conversations with Muslim communities after the Christchurch
2019 shootings noted Muslim women in particular faced more barriers in
entering and advancing in the workforce and that there were few allowances
for religious practises in the workplace (Office of Ethnic Communities, 2019).
A recent survey of employers (Auckland Chamber of Commerce, 2018) showed
increasing attempts by Aotearoa New Zealand businesses to reduce institutional
employment barriers against migrants:
2.4.2.
•
Although employers continued to prefer to hire New Zealanders over
migrants, survey results showed employers were less resistant to hiring
someone who did not have much local work experience, someone who lived
offshore or someone with less than 12 months remaining on their visa
•
Less than one-quarter (24%) of respondents reported having no migrant
workers (a decrease from 31% in 2017)
•
Employers who had migrant workers said they were providing more cultural
induction for their migrant workers and their families to help them integrate
more effectively in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Education and training
Experiences of racism often affect the children of migrants, especially for children
who are not fluent in English. Various Aotearoa New Zealand studies document
explicit, subtle and institutional forms of racism that affect the children of migrants
(Butcher et al., 2006; Dixon et al., 2009; Office of Ethnic Communities, 2019; SobrunMaharaj et al., 2008), including:
•
Racism from other children and ethnic intimidation – for example, being
called ethnically-based slurs or bullied on the basis of ethnicity or religion
•
Lack of action from educators when children or parents report acts of racism
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Drivers of racism – March 2021
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