New Zealand women are today throwing down a challenge to the Government on pay equity at a rally outside Parliament in Wellington.

Minister of Labour, Kate Wilkinson's assertion today that she is closing the Pay and Employment Equity Unit because it had completed its work shows a total disregard for school support staff and social workers, says Labour's Women's Affairs spokesperson, Sue Moroney.

The announcement by the Government that it is scrapping the Department of Labour's Pay and Employment Equity Unit is a chance to put forward to cabinet the legislative changes that are needed, say the National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) who has been demanding equal pay for equal work

15 May 2009 - The Human Rights Commission will host a round table to advance issues of pay and employment equity following the disestablishment of the Pay and Employment Equity Unit this week.

The reality of National's slashing of jobs in the public sector hit home for staff at the Tertiary Education Commission today as they found out which of them would be losing their jobs, Grant Robertson says.

The Pay and Employment Equity Unit (PEE) will be disestablished as part of the reprioritising of Government spending, says Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson.

Seven positions will be affected by the change.

The decision today by the National Party Government to abolish the Department of Labour's Pay and Employment Equity Unit shows an absolute disregard for the thousands of women workers in this country whose work is undervalued simply because they are women, said CTU President Helen Kelly.