Pay equity

The Ministry's discussion document 'Next Steps Towards Pay Equity' provides information on the gender pay gap. It also suggests there may be a gap in current government policies addressing the differences in pay rates. Not all of the differences between men's and women's pay can be explained by factors such as education or time in the workforce. The concentration of women in a narrow range of low paid occupations using skills, such as caring and relationship management, suggests that work that has been seen as traditionally 'women's' work is not valued as highly as work that is considered to be 'men's' work.

International conventions ratified by New Zealand recommend that the part of the gender pay gap that results from the undervaluing of traditional female skills be addressed through the principle of 'equal pay for work of equal value'. Currently New Zealand has legislation that requires equal pay for women doing the same jobs as men, but there is no policy that requires equal pay for work of equal value.

Research on Wages and Costs of Education and Training (2006)

Next Steps To Pay Equity

Next Steps To Pay Equity: submissions report (2003)

Next Steps To Pay Equity: discussion document (2002)

Mahi Orite, Utu Tokeke: background information booklet on pay for Māori (2002)

Next Steps Towards Pay Equity: background paper on equal pay for equal work (2002)