As it happened: Nationwide protests against controversial pay equity law change
The Pay Equity Amendment Bill passed on Wednesday after being
rushed through under urgency
.
The legislation means 33 equity claims being negotiated will now have to restart the process under new criteria.
Today's nationwide protests are being organised by the Public Service Association and will include a demonstration outside the Tāmaki electorate office of Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden who is the architect of the legislation.
Disability support worker Jo-Chanelle Pouwhare
who is affected by the pay equity law change is challenging van Velden to do her job for a week.
Pouwhare described the law change as "really misogynistic" saying the government was worrying more about the economy than looking after the women in their workforce.
Protesters gather at demonstrations against controversial pay equity law changes in Auckland
Photo:
RNZ / Rowan Quinn
The
National Party leadership
briefed its MPs two days in advance of the government's announcement to overhaul the pay equity system that makes it tougher for women to lodge claims.
While the party caucus was meeting at 10am on Tuesday - an hour before van Velden revealed the pay equity changes - Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis considered it significant enough to give its MPs more warning.
Speaking to reporters at Parliament on Thursday afternoon Finance Minister Nicola Willis confirmed the Sunday briefing, and said officials had warned ministers of "legal risks" if the government had talked about its intentions to make changes to pay equity laws ahead of the new legislation being passed.
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