Denise Lee, MP for Maungakieke
Confirmation from a second working group into pay equity principles that National’s policy settings were largely on the
right track should encourage the Government to support a private member’s Bill, National MP Denise Lee says.
Maungakiekie MP Denise Lee’s Employment (Pay Equity and Equal Pay) Bill re-introduces the previous Government’s pay
equity legislation which was withdrawn from Parliament in November last year by the Labour Government.
“The reconvened Joint Working Group on Pay Equity Principles has reported back to Ministers reconfirming the principles
recommended by the first Group to the National Government.
“The reconvened Group has changed just one principle to clarify and simplify the process for initiating a pay equity
claim and has agreed that principles on comparators are appropriate and sufficient.
“Given this, it’s my hope that the Government will now support my Bill at its First Reading to Select Committee so we
can make progress as quickly as possible.
“This Bill is a significant step towards closing the gender pay gap by ensuring female-dominated jobs are paid fairly,”
Ms Lee says.
“It sets out a practical and fair process for employees working in jobs predominantly performed by women to follow if
they believe they are not being paid what their job is worth.
“We are committed to achieving pay equity in New Zealand. Addressing and correcting the pay imbalance will benefit
individual women, their families, and future generations of New Zealanders.”