Human Rights

The law protects all people from unlawful discrimination, this includes discrimination on the grounds of:

  • Age
  • Race or colour
  • Ethnicity or national origins
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation
  • Disability
  • Religious or ethical belief
  • Marital status
  • Employment status
  • Political opinion

This means that an employer cannot treat a young person differently (on the basis of their age or other grounds noted above) compared to other applicants or employees.

There is an exception however that allows for employers to pay people differently based on their age.

For more information, please see the Human Rights Commission website or call 0800 496 877.