Bias Against Pacifika People No Surprise Says MindTheGap

The shocking pay gap for Pacifika people needs urgently addressing by both the Government and New Zealand businesses according to MindTheGap.

Founders of the MindTheGap campaign say new data just released shows much of the pay gap for Pacifika men and women is likely due to racism or unconscious bias by employers comes as no surprise.

MindTheGap co-founder Jo Cribb says many New Zealand businesses would be unaware that they are demonstrating bias in their workforce, and the best way to do that is to measure pay gaps.

“While the average pay gap sits at around nine percent, for Pacifika women the pay gap is as high as 27% compared to Pakeha males.”

The Auckland University of Technology research, released by the Human Rights Commission, analyses the job characteristics, education levels, number of household dependents, and regions where people lived.

But it showed that after taking these factors into account, three-quarters of the pay gap couldn’t be explained.

“We welcome the measurement of this data as it shines a light on incredible bias in the New Zealand workforce which is the first step to closing this gap.’

MindTheGap is asking the Government to make pay gap reporting for businesses with over 50 staff compulsory.

It has launched a petition for New Zealanders to support this. https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/close-the-gender-and-ethnic-pay-gaps-make-pay-gap-reporting-mandatory-for-businesses-in-new-zealand

“New Zealand has fallen behind other Western countries due to its lack of action in addressing the pay gap, we want urgent action both at the business level and with Government to ensure all New Zealanders are paid fairly and without bias.”

“Requiring big employers to report pay gaps can help reduce child poverty and help end discrimination that impacts on the aspirations of Māori, of Pasifika; of other ethnic groups.”

Business can register their pay gaps on https://www.mindthegap.nz/registry.

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