Wednesday 4th November

BPW NZ challenges slow progress on care workers’ pay

At the Health Select Committee submission hearings for the Home and Community Support (Payment for Travel between Clients) Settlement Bill today the New Zealand Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW NZ) congratulated the committee on the current bill and challenged the government to move faster to right pay inequity for care workers.

“BPW NZ urges the government to follow on from this successful bill and the agreements reached and work for true equal pay where skills, experience and responsibility are valued” says BPW NZ Issues Vice President Hellen Swales who presented the BPW NZ submission.

“BPW NZ congratulates rest-home worker Kristine Bartlett and her union for pursuing her right to equal pay through our court system and now is the time for action

“The skill, the experience and the responsibility of care workers is not been recognised or valued and this puts pressure on the sustainability of quality care for our elderly and disabled. We are concerned about the succession planning of an industry.

“All New Zealanders have a stake in this issue and the structural pay discrimination inherent in this female dominated occupation needs to be challenged and overcome. If younger workers are not attracted to this work there will be pressure throughout the health system.

“BPW NZ like many New Zealanders does not believe that care workers have been given a fair deal.

“It is time to significantly improve pay for our care workers“ says Mrs Swales.

ENDS

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