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Greens co-leader Metiria Turei says a Court of Appeal decision to uphold the application of the Employment Equity Act to aged care workers could have a significant effect on child poverty in many Maori and Pacific homes.
The court dismissed an appeal by rest home operator Terranova against an Employment Court decision that the rates paid to the mainly female workforce in the sector were discriminatory.
Ms Turei says rest home operators take big profits but cry poverty when they are asked to pay a fair wage.
She says it's an example of the working poor.
"It's mostly women in these industries. They mostly have kids. They have growing families. They are earning between minimum wage and a dollar or two above. It's a really hard job, anyone who is involved in aged care, and they are struggling to make ends meet. Their kids are often the ones in the poverty statistics, and it can be fixed," Ms Turei says.
The case also exposes problems with differing pay rates between the public and private sectors.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH METIRIA TUREI CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjM1MjE=
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