A roadmap to gender equality urgent
Achieving gender equality will advance New Zealand society by bringing an end to everyday sexism in New Zealand and to
achieving a better way of life for all New Zealanders, says Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Dr Jackie Blue.
Backing the National Council of Women on their white paper released today, “Enabling women’s potential - the social and economic imperative’ Dr Blue said:
“Gender inequality is everyone’s problem and we need to normalise gender equality so it becomes a reality for everyday
New Zealanders,” said Dr Blue.
The report recommends12 actions that will involve the Council, government, employers, unions, community groups and all
New Zealanders to achieve a pathway for gender equality.
“The gender pay gap is at a six-year high at 11.8%. The fastest way to reduce our entrenched gender pay gap is to
improve the wages of those New Zealanders in the lowest paid jobs, the overwhelming majority of whom are women,” she
said.
The Commission's Tracking Equality at Work found that women and young people are more likely to be paid less than any other New Zealand workers. Pacific women
were at the bottom of the pay ladder.
“Equal participation of women in the labour market is essential to the future of our workforce. Pay equity where jobs
are valued according to skill, effort and responsibility will benefit generations of women, their families, community
and economy.”
“The time is now to map out the path to a zero gender pay gap. We have dined out too long on the achievements of the
suffragettes. Just as we led the world in women winning the right to vote in 1893, we can also lead the world in pay
equity.
“Now we must become world leaders in gender equality where there are no stereotypes or sexism, where there are equal
employment opportunities, and very low incidents of domestic violence. Women are suffering in many areas of life and
this is a human rights issue,” Dr Blue said.
ENDS