The New Zealand Government is providing a new online multilingual learning programme, which will protect migrant workers and school students from exploitation.
According to a recent press release, the Introduction to Your Employment Rights e-module is the first multilingual programme of its kind that checks and clarifies employment rights knowledge in less than 30 minutes.
The Introduction to Your Employment Rights e-module
- The tool is currently available in six languages and would serve as another step in the proactive prevention of worker exploitation.
- Initially, it is available in English, Samoan, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, and Tagalog (Filipino). It has a voice-over for the same languages, to guarantee that people with low literacy can understand their rights.
- The module will be translated into more languages in the future and should be followed soon by an employer obligations learning module, which is being developed.
- Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway explained that migrant workers and students entering the workforce remain two of the most vulnerable workforce groups in New Zealand.
- This is because they often have little understanding of their employment rights.
Benefits
- This educational module sets the scene to improve knowledge of their rights and empower them to know what to do from the start of their employment.
- The module will enable workers to understand their employment agreements, know their employment rights, and stand up for them or seek support, if needed.
- Better informing these employee groups will ensure they have better work experiences and help protect them from exploitative practices.
- The module will be promoted to tertiary and industry training providers, unions, schools, migrant groups and also through the immigration system.
- The completed module provides a learning record for users, which they can choose to share with their employers or training organisation.
Role of Employers
- Furthermore, organisations can request their own accounts to track use and completion rates for employees.
- Businesses are encouraged to advise their migrant staffs that include those still in their home countries; young staff, or those new to the workplace to use the learning module and complete it.
- This is a matter of good practice on the part of employers that can help ensure employees are aware of their minimum employment rights.
- Additionally, the learning records can also be used by businesses to show their customers that they take ethical employment seriously.
- Secondary and tertiary education providers as well as industry training organisations are encouraged to educate their students and empower future employees.
- The module also shows employees how to get more information and support, including through a suite of more in-depth employer and employee e-learning modules accessible on the Employment Services website.
- The Government is taking serious action on migrant exploitation and is proposing some significant change to help prevent it, protect exploited migrants and enforce appropriate working conditions and immigration obligations.
- The proposal can be found here. The closing date for feedback is on 27 November 2019.
