Parliament has passed Labour MP Camilla Belich’s bill which ends the right of employers to place gag orders on staff talking about their salaries.

“Workers should be able to talk about their own pay to make sure any unfairness or discrimination in pay is quickly identified and is fixed,” Camilla Belich said.

The Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill makes pay secrecy clauses unenforceable and protects workers who discuss their pay from disciplinary action by an employer.

“Most New Zealanders would expect that they can talk about their own pay without being disciplined by their employer. This Bill brings the law in line with these expectations and allows for greater pay transparency This Bill brings New Zealand into line with many comparable nations, and it’s about time,” Camilla Belich said.

“At a time when the Government has scrapped Fair Pay Agreements and cut pay equity claims for women because their Budget didn’t add up, this law change is needed more than ever.

“Labour backs the rights of workers, particularly when we have a Government with the worst track record of upholding workers' rights in New Zealand’s history. I’m proud that Parliament could come together to get this done,” Camilla Belich said.

The bill was the second Labour Party Member’s Bill to pass tonight. It was supported by the Labour Party, the National Party, Te Pati Māori and the Green Party.

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