BusinessNZ has welcomed changes to the Pay Equity Bill that aims to get better pay for women in undervalued occupations.
BusinessNZ was part of the Pay Equity Joint Working Group that agreed on a set of principles for pay equity bargaining.
Chief executive Kirk Hope says the principles agreed in the tripartite working group have now been reaffirmed by the current Government and will clarify the process for settling pay equity claims, more clearly aligning it with the collective bargaining framework in the Employment Relations Act.
“The Bill will now get the issues on the table for discussion and is a big step forward in the process of rebalancing pay outcomes for historically undervalued occupations,” Hope said.
The improved Pay Equity Bill has been welcomed by Business Central which is pleased with the progress after two years in the House.
Business Central is part of the BusinessNZ network.
“Women should be paid the same as men for jobs of equal value. It’s good to see the bill finally progressing so issues arising can be dealt with in the appropriate manner,” says John Milford, chief executive of Business Central.
“This bill reaffirms women’s rights to equal pay and sets out a process for claims for pay inequity based on gender. It is decent progress on the issue after two years of back-and-forth.
“The business community is committed to supporting this bill and the outcomes and we’re looking forward to seeing it passed before Parliament rises.”