Women’s Affairs Minister just for show?
       

Pansy Wong admitted in Parliament today that she was not even consulted when the National Government scrapped the pay equity reviews for social workers and school support staff, says Labour spokesperson on Women's Affairs, Sue Moroney.

“The failure of the National Government to consult the Minister of Women’s Affairs begs the question why have they appointed a Minister of Women's Affairs if they don’t intend to include her when making important decisions affecting women. Is she just there for show?" asked Sue Moroney.

"Eliminating the gender pay gap is of vital importance to New Zealand women and their families but the Minister of Women's Affairs just stood by as her own Government put a stop to investigating fair pay for these female-dominated occupations."

"The last time National were in Government they scrapped the Pay Equity legislation within weeks of taking office in 1990 and now in 2009 they are back to their old ways," said Sue Moroney.

 "It hasn't taken them long to revert to type and having a Minister of Women's Affairs has proved no impediment to them doing so.

“The Minister was unable to articulate a coherent strategy for eliminating the gender pay gap in Parliament today, in the face of the Government's back-down on pay equity investigations which were to involve gathering data and information about pay rates within occupations as well as how they compared with similar male-dominated occupations.

"I found her put-down of the protest action by school support staff in Hamilton on Friday insulting to those women and the valuable work they perform.

“The Minister clearly has no interest in addressing the issues they face and therefore the quality of the service they provide to New Zealand children," said Sue Moroney.

ends

© Scoop Media