Women’s Day highlights growing pay gap
Tuesday was the centenary of the first celebrations of International Women’s Day. The theme for this year is ‘equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women’.
About 40 people from the Wellington Pay Equity Challenge Coalition, MPs, union activists and working women gathered at parliament to recognise the day. Beside the Sonja Davies Memorial in the grounds of the attendees and launched the pay equity pledge which so far seventy women leaders have signed pledging for pay equity. On the hundredth anniversary of International Women’s Day this raised awareness of women’s equality issues which often came when young women sought their first job after school, training or during tertiary education.
The women gathered also donated money to the Women’s Refuge Christchurch Earthquake appeal.
Meanwhile Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner, Dr Judy McGregor called for young new leaders to help campaign for pay equity.
“Youth unemployment, which is particularly high for Māori and Pacific women among 15-19 year olds, is hugely demoralising and a waste of potential talent,” said Dr McGregor.
“Among those that do get work, young women are shocked to realise from the first day at work they will be getting anything up to several thousand dollars a year less as a starting salary than an equivalent male, despite their often considerable academic achievements.”
The discovery of the gender pay gap is often the start of their awareness of gender inequality in the workplace.
“While we should celebrate International Women’s Day for the transformation of women’s lives over the past 100 years, women should not delude themselves that the battle is won,” said Dr McGregor.
