Guides for migrant workers welcomed by the Human Rights Comm

Guides for migrant workers welcomed by the Human Rights Commission
This month’s launch by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) of guides to assist migrant workers and employers in the Aged Care sector has been welcomed by the Human Rights Commissioner.

“A significant proportion of our 48,000 aged care workers are migrant women. Ensuring information about New Zealand’s qualifications and registration requirements is available in their home countries was a key recommendation in the Human Rights Commission’s Caring Counts inquiry into the aged care workforce,” said Dr Jackie Blue, Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner.

“This is a step towards developing best practice guidance for migrant workers in aged care.”

Dr Blue hopes the Government continues to respond positively to recommendations from the Caring Counts inquiry that found inequity in pay rates between aged care workers with those employed by community providers (funded by District Health Boards) often paid $3 to $5 less an hour than caring staff directly employed by the District Health Board. The report contained ten key recommendations with an implementation timetable set for 2013-2016.

“The fact that the workers who care for our elders, our parents and grandparents are some of the lowest paid in New Zealand is not something we can be proud of,” said Dr Blue.

ENDS

http://www.hrc.co.nz/eeo/caring-counts-report-of-the-inquiry-into-the-aged-care-workforce/

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