October 27, 2022
Pay equity battle as parliament evens up
Greens co-leader Marama Davidson says evening the gender balance in parliament now needs to be backed up with action on equal pay.
The swearing in of Labour’s Soraya Peke-Mason this week to replace Trevor Mallard actually created a female majority, as the Hamilton West seat is vacant pending a by-election.
“Representation is a good important step but now we’ve got to back it up so we’re nowhere near equal pay for men and women and that’s something the Greens have been championing and we’ve been calling our Labour for putting up excuses as to why they haven’t changed that yet and brought in pay transparency,” Ms Davidson says.
The pay gap is not just about gender but about race, with Maori women earning 81 cents for every $1 pakeha men earn and Pasifika women 75 cents.
Parliament last night passed the Fair Pay Agreements Bill, allowing collective bargaining for industry or occupation-wide minimum employment terms.
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood says it will improve pay for vulnerable employees, especially Māori, Pacific peoples, young people, and people with disabilities, who are over-represented in occupations which will benefit from a Fair Pay Agreement.