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Richard Wagstaff: Pay equity legislation creating more barriers

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Fri, 21 Apr 2017, 8:20AM
Terra Nova rest home employee Kristine Bartlett with her supporters during their demonstration outside the Court of Appeal in Wellington in 2014. New Zealand Herald photograph by Mark Mitchell.

Richard Wagstaff: Pay equity legislation creating more barriers

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Fri, 21 Apr 2017, 8:20AM

Speed bumps are cropping up in drafts of the new pay equity legislation.

Criticism comes after the Government settled a historic pay equity case for aged care workers - which is to provide a framework for future cases.

But new requirements in the legislation mean women have to find a case of pay inequity within their own workplace, before looking at the wider sector.

Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff told Nadine Higgins it's creating more barriers for women, and he wants the draft amended.

"It introduces an impediment to women making successful claims, and we think it's likely going to lead to court and lead to more problems."

Wagstaff said women in under-paid sectors aren't likely to find cases within their own workplace.

He said men who work in these sectors are likely to have low pay too - so it doesn't end well for anyone.

LISTEN ABOVE AS RICHARD WAGSTAFF SPEAKS WITH NADINE HIGGINS

 

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