Protecting Our People

In New Zealand and across the world, demand is increasing for businesses to look after the wellbeing of their employees. While many New Zealanders can’t conceive of workers being treated poorly, exploitation occurs here every day.

Workers must be able to raise any concerns about their employment terms and conditions without fear of penalty or other retaliation by their employer.  The aim should be a speedy resolution of any such issues to ensure any harm is as small as possible and quickly remediated.

NZEE expects its members to operate in a fair & respectful manner at all times, to hold themselves accountable and demonstrate the highest standards of employment practice.

The key lever for this accountability is the membership mechanism.

• adhering to a Human Rights Policy
• independently audited by a third party
• frontend verification by third party investigator
• provide evidence of their compliance with membership criteria
• requiring the use of a Worker Voice survey to capture the voice of the worker

Compliance is reviewed annually. Non-compliant members are exited, and supported to improve through an improvement plan carried out by an independent third party. Current members are listed on the NZEE website for public accountability.

Creating environments where people want to work and feel they offer value & impact is important. By collectively committing to and promoting these values and principles, we can foster employment environments that advances the safety, security, and welfare of all people.

Make a complaint about an NZEE Member: chair@nzee.nz

Connecting Now: freephone for employment issues. Interpreters are available for over 180 different languages: 0800 20 90 20

Report Migrant Exploitation: Migrant Exploitation Complaint Online or free phone 0800 200 088

New Zealand Police: Find your Police contact here

Citizens Advice Bureau: Find a Citizens Advice Bureau

Community Law: Free legal help

Unions: Find Your Union - NZCTU

Resolving employment problems: Employment New Zealand

Employment Relations Authority: Employment Relations Authority

Workplace health and safety queries: Contact us | WorkSafe

Make a disclosure about serious wrongdoing at work and be protected: Protected Disclosure

 

 

 

 

Learn about essential employment information (employee) 

An Introduction to Your Employment Rights

 

Learn about essential employment information (employer)

Employment Learning Modules Learn about essential employment information - free to access

 

New Zealand minimum employment rights of employees – other language translations: Employment NZ Minimum Rights of Employees

 

VisaView allows employers to check the visa status of a person, and if they are allowed to work in New Zealand VisaView | Immigration New Zealand

 

Employers who have breached minimum employment standards. All employers are required to comply with minimum employment standards. Employers who have breached employment standards are restricted from recruiting migrant workers. Employers who have breached minimum employment standards » Employment New Zealand

 

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Universal Declaration of Human Rights | United Nations

UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights Introduction to the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights (business-humanrights.org)

OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains: OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains - OECD

NZ Constitutional issues and Human Rights: Human rights | New Zealand Ministry of Justice

NZ Bill of Rights: New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 No 109 (as at 30 August 2022), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation

NZ Human Rights Act 1993: Human Rights Act 1993 No 82 (as at 30 August 2022), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation

NZ Privacy Act: Privacy Act 1993 No 28 (as at 01 December 2020), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation

NZ Crimes of Torture Act 1989: Crimes of Torture Act 1989 No 106 (as at 21 February 2018), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation

Saying No to Bribery and Corruption – A Guide for New Zealand Businesses - Ministry-of-Justice-Anti-Corruption-Guide.pdf

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 : Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 No 70 (as at 28 October 2021), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation