Draft Employment Pay Equity Equal Pay Bill
On 18 April 2017 the Government reached a settlement with the unions in the long running caregiver pay equity case. This settlement impacts on 55,000 workers in the Aged Care Sector, who from 1 July 2017 will receive a pay increase of between 15 and 50 per cent, depending on their qualifications and/or service. This settlement will apply to all pay equity claims made prior to 1 July 2017 that fall within the settlement scope.
Govt Accepts Recommendations Pay Equity
The Government will update the Equal Pay Act and amend the Employment Relations Act to implement recommendations of the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity.
Terranova Approach Zealand Entered Unchartered Domain
Dating back to the pre-industrial era, women in New Zealand have been paid less than men. Over time, discrimination against women in the workplace has been recognised, and legislation has been developed to prevent it. New Zealand’s labour and human rights laws prohibit discrimination in pay or employment opportunity, and provide equal pay for men and women doing the same job, in both the public and private sectors. Despite the best intentions of the legislation, the gender pay gap has remained. In the June 2014 quarter, the gender pay gap in New Zealand was 9.9 per cent. This means that a typical New Zealand male earned about 10 per cent more for an hour’s work than a typical New Zealand female.[1]
Positive Step Pay Equity
State Services Minister Paula Bennett has welcomed an agreement with unions which will see the Government’s new pay equity principles applied for the first time.
Human Rights Commission Welcomes Pay Equity Milestone
October 21, 2015 The Human Rights Commission has welcomed plans to set up a working group to develop agreed principles on pay equity for all sectors of the economy.