14 May 2009 - The government's decision to scrap the Department of Labour's Pay and Employment Equity Unit puts the final nail in the pay equity coffin for thousands of low paid women workers, according to the education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa.

Earlier this year the government announced it was halting all pay and employment equity investigations which look to address the pay gap between men and women in the public sector.

"That was simply a sign of things to come in what appears to be a campaign by this government to undermine and undervalue the rights of women workers," says NZEI National Secretary Paul Goulter.

One of the completed investigations involved low paid female education support workers who work with special needs children. It identified a clear gender gap and found that they are significantly underpaid in terms of their skills, responsibilities and the demands of their jobs.

Paul Goulter says "it's clear that by scrapping this unit, the results of that pay investigation will not be realised. The government claims wage improvements to address pay equity issues can be negotiated as part of the pay bargaining process, but realistically it's making that very difficult."

There was also a recommendation for a pay equity investigation for thousands of teacher aides around that country.

"That recommendation fell into a black hole when the government announced a halt to any further pay equity investigations, and this latest move makes it clear it will never see the light of day."

"Institutional pay discrimination is a reality for thousands of low paid women workers and true to form, this government has just delivered them another slap in the face," says Mr Goulter.

NZEI continues to strongly back a petition by Labour MP Sue Moroney calling for the reinstatement of pay equity investigations in the public sector and for the government to honour the results of those already completed.