3.7 Equal employment opportunities (EEO)
Statutory requirement: Section 56(1) of the State Sector Act 1988 -
The chief executive of a Department must -
(a) operate a personnel policy that complies with the principle of being a good employer; and
…and
(c) ensure its compliance with that policy (including its equal employment opportunities programme) and report in its annual report on the extent of its compliance
Under Section 58 of the State Sector Act 1988,
(3) For the purposes of section 56, an equal employment opportunities programme means a programme that is aimed at the identification and elimination of all aspects of policies, procedures, and other institutional barriers that cause or perpetuate, or tend to cause or perpetuate, inequality in respect to the employment of any persons or group of persons.
Public service departments are required to report in their annual report on the extent of their compliance with their personnel policy (including their equal employment opportunities programme).
From the SSC website, the policy statement to support the requirements outlined in section 56 and 58 of the State Sector Act -
'We will base appointments on merit, while recognising the employment aspirations of Māori, ethnic and minority groups, women, and people with disabilities. We will ensure fairness in employment for all persons and groups of persons. The integration of equality and diversity throughout the Public Service will be a key aspect of strategic planning and performance, and chief executives will provide the lead in working towards this. Equality and diversity in the Public Service, as required by the State Sector Act 1988, will enable the best service to the government of the day and to New Zealanders.'
Departments should refer to Equality and Diversity - the EEO policy for the Public Service - as a source of information to guide their planning and reporting on EEO. The document is available on the SSC website at http://www.ssc.govt.nz/public-service-eeopolicy.
