KEY POINTS:
Workers and employers must challenge racism in the workplace, the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) said today.
A report released today by the Human Rights Commission showed workplace complaints made up 20 per cent of race related complaints in 2006, up from 16 per cent in 2005.
Almost a third of complaints to the Human Rights Commission last year were workplace-related, the report said.
One case involved a Russian teacher of English refused a job on the grounds she lacked local experience; others involved overseas doctors complaining of the difficulty in gaining New Zealand registration.
CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said racial discrimination in any aspect of New Zealand life was unacceptable.
"Migrant workers have always been a vital part of our society and must be entitled to equal rights and treatment, and unions will continue to advocate for this by challenging discrimination and racism at work," she said.
Discrimination against the indigenous people of New Zealand continued to be "of great concern" to the CTU, Ms Beaumont said.
The fundamental basis from which discrimination should be confronted was the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, she said.
"Unions have always been advocates for social, economic and cultural rights and will continue to challenge all forms of discrimination as an abuse of human rights."
The report showed the number of complaints about racial harassment also continued to grow.
In 2006 24 per cent of race-related complaints were about harassment, compared to 19 per cent in 2005 and 15 per cent in 2004.
One case of harassment involved a religious minister who mimicked a recent migrant's accent during an incident involving a parking space.
Accommodation continued to be an area where discrimination persisted but there were few complaints about comments made in the media, the report said.
In all the commission received 491 race related complaints last year, of which 301 were resolved in the early stages.
A second, five-yearly report is to be considered by the United Nations.
The report on New Zealand's progress in complying with the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) was produced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said he hoped the Government and the CERD committee would be able to engage on priorities for the next five years.
New Zealand had faced many significant issues which impacted on race relations since 2001, he said.
Among those issues were an increase in ethnic, cultural and religious diversity; Treaty claims and settlements and the reduction of economic and social disparities between Maori and Pacific people and other New Zealanders.
Mr de Bres said among the race relations challenges for the next five years were reducing ethnic disparities and providing for migration and settlement and strengthening relationships between diverse communities.
The UN would consider the CERD report in July and August this year.
- NZPA
