Wong fails to stand up for equal pay for women

Wong fails to stand up for equal pay for women

Minister of Women's Affairs Pansy Wong has failed to advocate for fairness for New Zealand women at work, Labour spokesperson on Women's Affairs Sue Moroney MP said today.

"She has allowed the National Government to pull the plug on pay and employment equity investigations for social workers and school support staff. She clearly has no intention of addressing the gender pay gap in New Zealand," Sue Moroney said.

"It is particularly important in these tough economic times that women are not consigned to being second-class citizens at work.

Sue Moroney is calling on Pansy Wong to tell the women of New Zealand what her involvement was in the decision to scrap the public service equity investigations when they were just months away from completion.

"Was she consulted by the Minister of State Services before he made this decision or was she completely ignored in the exercise?”

The gender pay gap stands at 12% in New Zealand and strong advocacy is required to shift that.

In contrast, the first bill signed into law by US President Obama was a Fair Pay Act that made it easier for women to challenge employers they suspect are in breach of equal pay laws.

In signing the bill, President Obama said "making our economy work means making sure it works for everybody - that there are no second-class citizens in our workplaces".

“This National Government is going in the opposite direction and New Zealand women and their families will pay the price,” Sue Moroney said.

ENDS