Men’s income falling nothing to celebrate, says pay equity group

Closing the gender pay gap through men’s income dropping is no reason to celebrate, says the Pay and Employment Equity Coalition.

“The statistics released this week by Statistics New Zealand are good news for neither working women nor men,” said Coalition spokesperson Angela McLeod.

“Incomes are dropping, and more households are dependent on women’s lower paid work. This is not a real closing of the gender pay gap, but an outcome of the recession and higher unemployment.”

“There is certainly nothing for the Minister of Women’s Affairs to crow about, and nothing to justify the Government’s continued inaction on the gap between men and women’s pay and employment conditions,” said Angela McLeod. “We need to close the gender pay gap by making women’s work more rewarding, not by cutting men’s pay.”

“There won’t be a genuine closing of the pay gap until the Government takes some real action. That includes raising the minimum wage, requiring employers to pay fairly, encouraging collective bargaining and pay equity legislation.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media