The government needs to show its commitment to women with more than just words says TEU women’s vice president, Sandra Grey, following its announcement that it will be disestablishing the Department of Labour’s Pay and Employment Equity Unit (PaEE).

“We’re extremely unhappy. Currently there are 15 polytechnics and institutes of technology, 1 university and 1 wānanga all engaged in pay and employment equity reviews through the PaEE unit, many of them very near completion.”

“Every review that has been done so far in the public sector has shown women being paid less than men for doing the same work. We anticipate that will be the case in the seventeen tertiary education reviews too.”

“Even if the government won’t stand up for those women, unions and those engaged in the review process are committed to continuing the work and moving towards fairer pay and employment for women.”

“It’s all very well for the minister to say she is still committed to closing the pay gap for ordinary working women. But she has just removed the tool that let us know what is causing those gaps and how we could address them. What is she going to replace that with?” asked Dr Grey.