Minister Nicola Grigg marks Equal Pay Act anniversary.
The anniversary of the 1972 Equal Pay Act has highlighted that New Zealand still has a long way to go in achieving pay equity for women. According to recent data, women earn an average of 8.2% less than men.
While progress has been made, with the public service gender pay gap halving since 2018 and trending downwards nationally, Minister for Women Nicola Grigg emphasizes that continuous efforts are required to address this issue. This includes supporting women into leadership positions, lifting incomes, and providing businesses with tools to calculate and understand their pay gaps.
The Government has partnered with business to develop a pay gap calculation tool, which is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Additionally, initiatives such as FamilyBoost and increased parental leave aim to provide women with more choices and freedom in their careers.
Minister Grigg stresses that addressing the gender pay gap requires bringing sunlight to the issue and creating meaningful and sustainable change. With a focus on growing the economy and supporting women's success, the Government is committed to ensuring women are paid fairly.