CTU media release
14 December 2009
Pay equity – full picture of underpaid women revealed
The Government has finally released details of its pay and employment equity investigations which confirm that women in
the public sector are significantly underpaid and discriminated against, revealed the CTU today.
According to the information sent to the CTU gender pay gaps in the public service range from 3 percent up to 35
percent, from 18-24 percent in Crown research institutes, and in public health one District Health Board reported that
women earned on average 69 percent of men’s full-time equivalent earnings.
Across the public sector women are underrepresented in senior management, part-timers are disadvantaged and
underutilised, workplace cultures inhibit women’s full participation and contribution, and opportunities for
participation and progression for women are limited.
“It has taken the Government six months to publish information which they had in June about the discrimination suffered
by women in the public sector,” said CTU President Helen Kelly. “In summary the Government proposes to do absolutely
nothing about the central issue in gender inequity – the fact of unequal pay for work of equal value.”
“Had the Government allowed its pay and employment equity investigations to continue there might have been some hope for
the thousands of women currently underpaid for the vital work they do in schools, health services and in government
itself. The Government has denied them this basic fairness however, exposing its strategies as mere lip-service to the
principles of pay equity.”
“At least the Department of Labour’s Pay and Employment Equity Toolkit is finally available on CD and should be taken up
and acted on in all corners of the public and private sector to help avoid the continuation of this deplorable
situation.”
ENDS