One’s own language is an internationally recognised human right

On its website, the New Zealand Human Rights Commission states that: “The right to use one’s own language is an internationally recognised human right, which is mentioned in a range of human rights treaties and declarations.

“It would be hard for an employer to justify a total ‘English only’ policy when the reason for that was to create ‘workplace harmony’ or because it was part of ‘company culture’.”

However, the commission also points out that such a policy could be appropriate if “an employer has a valid reason for it” such as health and safety.

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