Situation Now
Green Party Views on Pay Equity in New Zealand
17 November, 2000
Dear CEVEP
Congratulations on your new web site.
The Green Party is committed to equity for women in all spheres of life.
The facts speak for themselves. Women are paid less than men. Women's work is valued less than men's. This is not an accident but a result of structural discrimination and therefore we believe a legislative solution is required. We cannot continue to leave it up to the markets and employers to address this problem on their own.
In August this year, the Green Party proposed, in the House, an amendment to the Industry New Zealand Act that would have required Industry New Zealand as an employer to recognise equal pay for work of equal value in its personnel policy provisions. We were disappointed that no other parties supported this amendment.
The Greens support:
- Addressing social policies and practices that cause women to carry the long term economic risks caused by traditional division of labour;
- Addressing the widening gender pay gap and the barriers which prevent women from participating in the full range of employment opportunities;
- Amending the Equal Pay Act to ensure effective enforcement of the law and equal pay;
- Honouring New Zealand's international obligation to provide pay equity.
This policy is just the beginning, and the Green Party as it grows is continuing to examine the issue of the status of women and in particular the value society places on the unpaid and paid work we do and how we can collectively address this.
Again, congratulations on your web site. If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Sue Bradford, MP
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
Note: the letter is a graphic approx 90Kb in size and will take time to load.
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Last reviewed February 2004. This website created by First Bite of the Apple.