Women losing ground under National

The backwards slide for women under the John Key Government had been exposed for the third time in a month and the Government must act, says Labour spokesperson for women's affairs, Sue Moroney.

“Today the Census of Women's Participation from the NZ HRC has shown that women's participation has gone backwards in Government appointments to boards, leadership in the public service and pay rates in the public service,” Sue Moroney said.

“This comes hard on the heels of Friday's Household Labour Force Survey showing female unemployment has passed 7% for the first time since 1998 and the recent global gender gap report showing NZ has gone backwards on the international stage since John Key took office.

"The key areas New Zealand has gone backwards in for women are all the direct responsibility of the National Government.

“They appoint to state sector boards, they abolished the pay and employment equity unit and stopped pay equity audits in the state sector, and they have done nothing to create jobs in areas of the economy where women work.

“In fact, in areas like early childhood education, they have deliberately cut funding, and now women working in that sector are losing their jobs.

“The fee increases for ECE brought about by this Government are also causing women to reassess whether they can afford to participate in the workforce and therefore limiting the choices women have.

“In comparison Labour introduced paid parent leave and encouraged women on benefits into study by offering the Training Incentive Allowance, an allowance which National cut.

“Minister of Women's Affairs Pansy Wong is failing to get her government to act in the interests of women and their families.

“The Minister can hardly keep preaching to private business about improving their representation of women on boards, while her own Government is appointing fewer women to state sector boards,” Sue Moroney said.

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