The PSA welcomes the launch today of a People’s select committee to hear the views of women, pay equity experts and other New Zealanders on the Government’s rushed changes to the Pay Equity Act.

The legislation, which has slammed the brakes on pay equity claims for more than 150,000 underpaid, mainly female workers of was never signaled during the election campaign and rushed through the House under urgency without a select committee process.

"The people whose livelihoods were seriously impacted by this undemocratic legislation should have had a chance to have their say, National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says.

"We call on the Government to do what’s fair - repeal the law and let women, unions, employers and pay equity experts have their say in a proper select committee process.

We want to be heard so that New Zealand women have a pay equity system that works. This is how a democracy is supposed to operate," Fitzsimons says.

"We thank and acknowledge Former National MP Marilyn Waring and the other former MPs who will serve on the Select Committee. However, in a properly functioning democracy the Government Ministers responsible should have done what they are paid to do and set up a proper select committee process."

"Women, unions and employers have spent hours and thousands of dollars working on the detailed hard graft of pay equity claims, and this work should be recognised by having their say in a proper select committee process.

"The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi PSA will support the work of the committee and be making a submission and that we will seek repeal of the 2025 amendments and instead a focus on speeding up settlements under the Act.

"The changes to the Act are a betrayal of the principles of equality we assumed were now settled and it was just gutting when the betrayal became real on budget day. The changes were shocking and hurtful."

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