MEDIA RELEASE
Embargoed until 19 September 2007
Forty years of focus on women’s employment
The Department of Labour today paid tribute to the huge gains in women’s employment made during the 40 years since the
National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women (NACEW) was set up.
“Over those 40 years women’s participation in the workforce has nearly doubled, and more and more women have moved into
non-traditional roles,” said acting Secretary of Labour Graham Fortune.
“NACEW has played a key role in ensuring that today’s women and young girls have access to choices about their
education, their working life and their work-life balance,” he said.
Over the Council’s history it has provided practical advice and concrete initiatives, such as a 1968 pamphlet to
encourage school girls to carry on with maths and science, and has provided government with policy advice and advocacy
on behalf of women in employment. It has also worked for better conditions for working women, and pushed for equal pay.
“What is interesting about the days when NACEW was set up is the paucity of information about women’s work,” said Mr
Fortune. “The Committee very quickly recognised that and began commissioning research.”
NACEW recognised that robust data and quality research was important for government to make sound policy decisions. Much
of the research has been done in collaboration with the Department of Labour, which also provides a secretariat to
support NACEW.
“The focus that NACEW has taken for its future work demonstrates that gender-related issues continue to be an important
dimension in making sure that all New Zealanders have a high-quality working life,” said Mr Fortune.
“We congratulate NACEW on its first 40 years, and look forward to working with the Council over the next 40,” he said.
More information about NACEW is at www.nacew.govt.nz
ENDS