Prejudice against Pacific names, undervaluing of qualifications and work experience in the recruitment process, lack of pay transparency, Pacific men being promoted over Pacific are some of the key findings from the recommendation of the Human Rights Commission national inquiry into the Pacific Pay Gap.
Led by the Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo, the inquiry was able to collect evidence to better understand why the Pacific Pay Gap exists and what needs to be done to close the gap.
“Voices of Pacific people: eliminating pay gaps”, the report sheds light on the lived experiences of Pacific workers while also exploring what government, employers and unions need to do to urgently address pay inequity.
Saunoamaali’i says, “Research through our inquiry provides evidence that racism, unconscious bias and workplace discriminatory practices are some of the reasons why Pacific workers are being held back from realising their full potential in the workplace.”
The report lays out the challenge, framework, and recommendations to close the Pacific Pay Gap in the next 20 years.
The Pacific Pay Gap Inquiry was conducted between August 2021 and July 2022. The inquiry engaged approximately 1,200 individuals, including Pacific workers, employers, and union members from across the New Zealand economy.
The full report is available on the Human Rights Commission website.
