Sharples Pita: Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Sharples Pita: Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:629;Page:1852] 
Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Maori Party) 
: 
 This House has heard before of how the world of Maori has a special work ethic a proud history of industry and a genealogy of hard work. Our songs and chants abound with lyrical allusion to blistered hands to sweat on the brow and to the work of the collective. We stand here today extolling the right to work. That is why we will support the bill going forward to the next stage because we are absolutely passionate about the debate. The debate must ensure we can create dramatic change for our employment options. The debate must increase Maori access to employment as well as ensure their advancement through employment. We want to widen the options available so that our people have the chance to get their foot in the door to achieve the fullest possible range of employment opportunities. 
In case this House has not noticed the door is still slammed far too shut for some Maori. Closed doors mean the average weekly income for Maori now is only $471 compared with $598 for non-Maori—a difference of a whole $127. Mr Deputy Speaker even though you and I hate hearing these negative statistics when we discuss issues such as this bill they become totally relevant. The right to work should be a right enjoyed universally by all citizens yet currently around 30000 Maori are jobless. 
The Maori share of total New Zealand unemployment is disproportionately high. In 2005 it was 22 percent—far higher than the Maori share of the working-age population which is 10 percent. Long-term unemployment for Maori is particularly rife. Roughly 27 percent of all unemployed Maori are experiencing long-term unemployment. Why is that? The Department of Labour tells us that it is because Maori are more likely to become unemployed due to a number of factors. Maori are strongly represented in volatile industries such as exports. There are also high numbers of Maori in low-skilled occupations and in casual work. Numbers of Maori do not have sufficient levels of literacy or the qualifications to secure and retain work and all too often Maori with the same tertiary qualifications as non-Maori are not selected for employment. 
So what is behind those disparities? Many years ago a ground-breaking report to the Department of Social Welfare  
Puao-te-ata-tu 
 identified a bias in our social and administrative institutions that automatically benefits the predominant race or culture while penalising minority and subordinate groups. And so we learnt about institutional racism. If one is outside one sees it as the system; if one is cocooned within it one sees it as normal conditions of existence. These are strong words and we must apply strength to the actions we take in dismantling the cocoon opening the door to diversity. 
I come to this House today desperately aware of the need of people in my constituency in my electorate—particularly in South Auckland—to be able to walk through the door to a job. However we are also committed to protecting workers’ rights so that workers’ rights are not impinged on are not abused and do not suffer from exploitation. Those are heavy issues and our caucus has grappled with the challenge inherent in them. What takes precedence: the right to work or the workers’ rights? We are not happy that workers’ rights may be affected by the fact that the employee would not have recourse to any of the remedies under the Employment Relations Act but we will not kill the debate at the first step. We want to allow people to have a say to hear the views of others and to open the doors for wider discussion. 
 The impact of the systemic bias of institutional racism and the plight of the jobless are still issues of significance for this nation. We must have the courage and strength to consider options. We therefore will vote on principle wanting there to be room for discussion but also always aware of the juggling act to protect workers’ rights alongside the right to work.