Human Rights Act 1993

Unlawful discrimination - Discrimination in employment matters

22: Employment

You could also call this:

"Fair treatment at work and when applying for jobs"

Illustration for Human Rights Act 1993

You have the right to be treated fairly when you apply for a job or are already working. If you are qualified to do a job, it is against the law for an employer to not give you the job just because of who you are. They cannot treat you unfairly because of things like your race, gender, or disability. You should be given the same chances as others to get training, be promoted, or move to a different job. It is also against the law for an employer to fire you or treat you badly just because of who you are. You cannot be forced to retire or resign because of these reasons either. When people are helping you find a job, they must treat you the same as others in similar situations. They cannot discriminate against you because of who you are, and must give you the same opportunities as everyone else.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM304483.

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21: Prohibited grounds of discrimination, or

"What you can't be treated unfairly for"


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23: Particulars of applicants for employment, or

"Job applicants are protected from unfair questions"

Part 2Unlawful discrimination
Discrimination in employment matters

22Employment

  1. Where an applicant for employment or an employee is qualified for work of any description, it shall be unlawful for an employer, or any person acting or purporting to act on behalf of an employer,—

  2. to refuse or omit to employ the applicant on work of that description which is available; or
    1. to offer or afford the applicant or the employee less favourable terms of employment, conditions of work, superannuation or other fringe benefits, and opportunities for training, promotion, and transfer than are made available to applicants or employees of the same or substantially similar capabilities employed in the same or substantially similar circumstances on work of that description; or
      1. to terminate the employment of the employee, or subject the employee to any detriment, in circumstances in which the employment of other employees employed on work of that description would not be terminated, or in which other employees employed on work of that description would not be subjected to such detriment; or
        1. to retire the employee, or to require or cause the employee to retire or resign,—
          1. by reason of any of the prohibited grounds of discrimination.

          2. It shall be unlawful for any person concerned with procuring employment for other persons or procuring employees for any employer to treat any person seeking employment differently from other persons in the same or substantially similar circumstances by reason of any of the prohibited grounds of discrimination.

          Compare
          • 1977 No 49 s 15(1), (2)
          • 1992 No 16 s 3