27 February 2007

It's time for equal rights for all workers

IHC New Zealand is hopeful that the Committee and third reading stages of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (DPEP) Act proceed quickly so workers with intellectual disabilities soon have equal rights in the workplace.

The DPEPA allows some people to work for less than the minimum wage, without annual leave or sick leave and with no right to join a union.

The repeal of the DPEP has passed its second reading and will be go through committee stage on Wednesday evening (28 February). It will then have its third and final reading.

For 47 years the Act has given sheltered workshops a total exemption from paying workers the minimum wage, annual leave or sick leave regardless of their individual abilities.

IHC's Director of Advocacy Trish Grant says that IHC has committed to advocating for policy and law that supports inclusion.

"The attitudes reflected in the DPEP Act are discriminatory and contravene the New Zealand Human Rights Act and international rules and conventions," says Ms Grant.

"IHC Advocacy has talked to thousands of people with intellectual disabilities and their families, and they have told us consistently that they want opportunities for real work and they want real pay for the work they do."

MS Grant says that there has been anxiety and fear reported about what the repeal might mean for people who currently work in sheltered workshops and their families. Sheltered workshops are only one option in a range of vocational services for people with disabilities.

"Workshops will not be forced to close, however they will have to change. They will have to provide workers the same employment rights that others workers enjoy. " The Ministry of Social Development, Department of Labour and New Zealand Federation of Vocational and Support Services have been working over the last five years to ensure that sheltered workshops are supported through the transition.

The New Zealand Federation of Vocation and Support Services has published Principles of Excellence for Employment Support with the intention of assisting business enterprises in their transition from providing sheltered work to providing employment services in line with the Pathways to Inclusion strategy.

Currently the DPEP Act provides a blanket exemption for sheltered workshops not to pay the minimum wage. Following the repeal, any minimum wage exemption will be specific to a particular person, in a particular job, with a particular employer and will involve an assessment by a Labour Inspector and periodic review.

"This administrative load for sheltered workshops associated with the repeal is small compared with the achievement of equality and dignity for people with disabilities. They will be recognised as individuals with skills and abilities and the same rights and protection under the law as any other worker," says Ms Grant.

"The repeal of the DPEP Act is vital to realising the vision of a society that values all its citizens and encourages their full participation," says Ms Grant.

ENDS

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