See WSA(NZ) submission on the government's draft report to the UN on NZ's human rights record
here
On 17 February 2009 the Minister for State Services Tony Ryall announced 'pay restraints' that included axing pay equity investigations for two state sector occupations. Both investigations have already identified discriminatory rates of pay, so the Women's Studies Association regards this policy change as an act of deliberate discrimination by the government against its women employees.
This infringes the Human Rights Act, and is also contrary to New Zealand's obligations under ILO Convention 100 and UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
The investigations were for women employed as social workers by Child, Youth and Family Services, who are paid 9.5 per cent less than their male colleagues, and for women in special education support who are also underpaid for their skills and experience compared to male colleagues. The pay investigations are independent, as part of a programme of review by the departments concerned and the unions. So what the government is axing is any pay adjustments to pay the women fairly.
We assume this means any further employment equity reviews and pay investigations for state sector occupations are also axed.
At present the government is consulting the public on a draft report to the UN on New Zealand's human rights record. The Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in employment on grounds of sex, including specifically by the government and its agencies.
The Women's Studies has made a submission calling for the government to report
its latest discriminatory move to the UN or - preferably - rethink this policy
change and let departments get on with their programme of action on pay and
employment equity.