Equal Pay – rnzngin Fifth Estate

September 27, 2024

Gender Pay Gap Not Closing

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

Evidence released by the NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi today shows that the gender pay gap is not closing quickly enough. “Calculations of official data show that women are paid 8.9% less than men on average. This fell by less than 1% last year. It is time for bolder action from the Government.” said NZCTU Vice President Rachel Mackintosh.

“It is unacceptable that in 2024 women are still discriminated against. On current trends it will take until 2055 to achieve gender pay parity across the economy – 83 years since the signing of the Equal Pay Act in 1972.”

“As Pasifika women are paid so much less than Pākeha men, they are effectively working for free from today, 27 September 2024. Wāhine Māori start working for free from October 14. All women start working for free from November 8. The average female worker loses $149.20 a week in income due to gender-based discrimination.”

“When women’s work is devalued and underpaid, women live in poverty, and so do their children. The ripples of childhood poverty last whole lives. There is no justification for perpetuating inequality by failing to act to raise women’s pay.”

“The most efficient way to close the gender pay gap is via pay equity settlements.”

“Changes by this government will make the pay equity process more difficult. By closing the Pay Equity Unit, the coalition Government will make funding for existing and future pay equity settlements harder. They have stopped progress.”

In addition, lifting the Minimum Wage by less than inflation affects more women than men.

Ceasing progress on pay transparency means the injustice of pay inequity continues to live in the dark.

“Closing the gender pay gap would benefit the wider economy and deliver $1.5bn in new tax. And it would be an essential step to good work and providing dignity for all. It would benefit everyone. It is clearly untenable for the gender pay gap to continue to exist until 2055. Action is needed now.”

June 26, 2024

Axing of Pay Equity Taskforce will entrench inequities for working women

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is deeply disappointed by confirmation of the Public Service Commission that the Pay Equity Taskforce will be disestablished.

“The disestablishment of the Pay Equity Taskforce will result in gender and ethnic pay disparities persisting as pay equity claims go unaddressed,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“It sends a message that the Government is washing its hands of responsibility for ensuring that working women aren’t being discriminated against in their pay. This will mean that government abandons its role as a leader on pay equity.

“Government has an obligation to ensure that all communities are free from discrimination, paid fairly and have good incomes. That means addressing pay equity claims as a matter of urgency.

“The Taskforce was already understaffed and claims already taking too long. This decision will greatly compound the problem and undermine the progress toward pay equity in the public sector.

“The Taskforce is still needed. There are numerous claims still unresolved, and all resolved claims still need to be reviewed regularly, which means there must be a continued role for government.

“Everyone deserves good work that pays well, and that means we must not tolerate anyone being paid less because they work in industries that have been historically undervalued by virtue of being female dominated,” said Wagstaff.

May 2, 2024

NZCTU calls on Govt to reverse disestablishment of Pay Equity Taskforce

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges is calling on the Government to reverse their decision to disestablish the Pay Equity Taskforce team, as it will result in gender and ethnic pay disparities persisting as pay equity claims go unaddressed.

“We are deeply concerned by the disestablishment of the Pay Equity Taskforce. It sends a message that the government is washing its hands of responsibility for ensuring that working women aren’t being discriminated against in their pay,” said Ansell-Bridges.

“It is shocking and totally unacceptable that the Government is essentially saying that there is no role for government in resolving pay equity claims and getting rid of discriminatory gender pay gaps.

“We must ensure that all communities are free from discrimination, paid fairly and have good incomes. That means addressing pay equity claims as a matter of urgency.

“The Taskforce was already understaffed, and claims were already taking too long. This decision will greatly compound the problem and undermine the progress toward pay equity in the public sector.

“This decision is reckless and isclearly part of the Government’s widespread public service cuts, which are undermining essential services in order to pay for tax cuts for landlords and the most wealthy.

“The Taskforce is still needed. There are numerous claims still unresolved, and all resolved claims still need to be reviewed regularly, which means there must be a continued role for government.

“This is another attack on working people from this Government, which has shown no regard for workers’ rights. They must reverse these changes and uphold the principle of fair pay for all people,” said Ansell-Bridges.

August 17, 2023

Working for free for seven weeks – The Gender Pay Gap is not closing fast enough

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

There has been disappointingly little progress in closing the gender pay gap in the last year despite continued low unemployment, wage growth, and strong labour demand says NZCTU Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges following the release of labour market data by Statistics NZ.

The overall gender pay gap has persisted across the past decade.

Last year, the NZCTU calculated that on average women started working effectively for free on 23 November 2022. This year the data shows that this has now closed slightly to 26 November.

NZCTU National Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges said, “Ten years ago women started working for free on 14 November. Despite all the huge strides we have made since then in terms of pay equality, we are still working 36 days a year for free. It underlines the need for more urgent effort from employers and the Government on this issue.”

When ethnicity is taken into consideration, the picture is even starker. The gap for Pasifika women means that in comparison to Pakeha men, they start working for free on 7 October. Māori women start working for free on 20 October. European women start working for free on 21 November. These dates show that women of all ethnicities are still facing discrimination in employment.

“With the mean gender wage gap now at 9.8%, the case for change could not be clearer. All employers should make sure that equal work is paid equally. We need greater pay transparency urgently. Last week’s announcement on pay reporting by the Government is a great start, but we need to go further and faster.

“These results show why the ethnic pay gap must also be reported on. We should also ban clauses in contracts preventing workers discussing their pay and require employers to include pay ranges in job adverts.

“This data underlines why Fair Pay Agreements are critical in New Zealand. They will provide transparency around basic pay for all workers and will ensure that women are not treated unfairly.

“Fair Pay Agreements will help reduce pay gaps and will highlight inequities in workplace pay. Not only are they good for women, but they are also good for all New Zealand workers.”

	Work for free day – women
	All Women	European Women	Māori Women	Pacific Peoples Women	Asian Women	Māori Women
Compared to all men	Sun, 26 Nov 2023	Wed, 06 Dec 2023	Fri, 03 Nov 2023	Sat, 21 Oct 2023	Mon, 13 Nov 2023	Tue, 31 Oct 2023
Compared to European men	Sat, 11 Nov 2023	Tue, 21 Nov 2023	Fri, 20 Oct 2023	Sat, 07 Oct 2023	Mon, 30 Oct 2023	Wed, 18 Oct 2023