09 March 2007

Discrimination At Work Must Be Challenged

“Racial discrimination in any aspect of New Zealand life is unacceptable and both workers and employers must challenge it at workplaces,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

Ms Beaumont was commenting on a survey out this morning from the Human Rights Commission, finding an increase in the number of workplace race related incidents dealt with by the Commission last year.

“Migrants are one group of workers facing discrimination and harassment at work,” she said. “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.”

“But of course discrimination against the indigenous people of New Zealand continues to be an issue of great concern to the CTU,” Carol Beaumont said.

“The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, continues to be the fundamental basis from which we must confront discrimination. 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,” Carol Beaumont said.

ENDS

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