31 July 2012

Govt needs to move on pay equity after UN report

The Government must reconsider the impact of its policies on women in light of the latest Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) report, Green Party women’s affairs spokesperson Jan Logie said today.

CEDAW noted with concern that New Zealand needed to make progress on pay inequality and pay equity among a number of other areas.

“The Government needs to look find solutions to the criticism it has received in the 2012 CEDAW report,” said Ms Logie.

“The Minister of Women’s Affairs Jo Goodhew could start by advocating for the Equal Pay Act to be modernised.

“The Green Party has an Equal Pay amendment Bill the Government could adopt,” said Ms Logie.

“This would help to progress this important issue and make certain we are meeting our international obligations.

“While it has been illegal in New Zealand to pay men and women differently for doing the same job since 1972, this is still happening.

“It is essential that we update this law,” said Ms Logie.

“Workers and unions must have the right to request information on pay levels by gender in their workplaces to assess whether the Equal Pay Act is being applied.”

Link to the CEDAW report for New Zealand: http://www.greens.org.nz/misc-documents/cedaw-report-new-zealand

Link to the Green Party Equal Pay amendment Bill: http://www.greens.org.nz/bills/equal-pay-amendment-bill

ENDS

© Scoop Media