July 19, 2022
No excuse for Māori, Pacific pay gap
Research on ethnic pay gaps by AUT’s New Zealand Work Research Institute for the Human Rights Commission’s Pacific Pay Gap Inquiry has found that only 27 percent of the pay gap for Pacific males could be explained, and 39 percent for Pacific females.
The rest could not be explained even after accounting for factors such as differences in job-related characteristics and educational attainment.
Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo says the report provides further evidence to back the suspicion the bulk of the Pacific Pay Gap can’t be explained and is at least partly due to invisible barriers like racism, unconscious bias and workplace discriminatory practices.
She says current systems aren’t set up for Pacific, Māori, and other ethnic minority workers to feel respected, and supported and thrive in the workplace.