New Zealand women paid 8.9% less than men, union calculations reveal
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) has warned that it will take until 2055 to achieve gender pay parity as it called for bolder action from the government.
Its latest calculations of official data revealed that women are paid 8.9% less than men on average, down by less than one per cent last year.
"On current trends, it will take until 2055 to achieve gender pay parity across the economy – 83 years since the signing of the Equal Pay Act in 1972," said NZCTU Vice-President Rachel Mackintosh in a statement.
"It is clearly untenable for the gender pay gap to continue to exist until 2055. Action is needed now."
Calculations from the NZCTU also revealed that Pasifika women have begun "effectively working for free" since September 27.
"Wāhine Māori start working for free from October 14. All women start working for free from November 8. The average female worker loses $149.20 a week in income due to gender-based discrimination," Mackintosh added.
"When women's work is devalued and underpaid, women live in poverty, and so do their children. The ripples of childhood poverty last whole lives. There is no justification for perpetuating inequality by failing to act to raise women's pay."
The NZCTU said pay equity settlements are the "most efficient way" to close the gender pay gap, but noted that this is already hampered after the discontinuation of the Pay Equity Taskforce earlier this year.
"By closing the Pay Equity Unit and making funding for existing and future pay equity settlements harder, they have stopped progress towards pay equality," Mackintosh said.
Lifting the minimum wage by less than inflation can also impact more women than men, as well as ceasing progress on pay transparency.
"Closing the gender pay gap would benefit the wider economy and deliver $1.5 billion in new tax. And it would be an essential step to good work and providing dignity for all. It would benefit everyone," Mackintosh said.
