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 unit and the contestable fund was stopped midstream in supporting a pay equity investigation for 24,000 school support staff and thousands of other workers employed in 15 polytechnics, CYFS, the wnanga, HortResearch and Waitakere City Council.

"The Minister's admission that it was her decision to close the unit, even though the Department of Labour had not recommended its closure in the line by line review, shows the low priority this Government has placed on valuing occupations dominated by women," said Sue Moroney

"The Minister's refusal to explain her understanding of the difference between equal pay and pay equity further underlined the Government's lack of commitment to eliminating the 12% gender pay gap.

A rally will be held at Parliament on Tuesday June 30 to protest against the closure of the Pay and Employment Equity Unit and to promote further attention to closing the gender pay gap.

"We hope that the Ministers of Labour and Women's Affairs Kate Wilkinson and Pansy Wong will attend, but given the low priority they have given pay equity I am not sure that they will take up the opportunity to meet with those interested in this important issue," Sue Moroney said.