Latest news with #JudyMcGregor
Scoop
6 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
United Nations Urged To Investigate New Zealand's Rollback On Women's Pay Equity Rights
The Pay Equity Coalition Aotearoa (PECA) has informed the Prime Minister and other relevant parties that it has made an urgent appeal to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to investigate what it calls a 'historic and deliberate regression' of women's economic and political rights in Aotearoa New Zealand. In a formal submission, PECA outlines how the Coalition Government's Equal Pay Amendment Act 2025 has dismantled the country's pay equity system, cancelling 33 live claims covering more than 180,000 women, many of whom are low-paid essential workers in care, health, education, and public services. 'This is the most significant rollback of women's rights in over a generation,' said Dame Judy McGregor, speaking on behalf of the coalition. 'These changes breach New Zealand's obligations under CEDAW and other international human rights treaties. They were made without consultation, under urgency, and with no democratic process.' The submission reveals that $12.8 billion previously set aside to address pay equity claims has been diverted by the government for other budgetary purposes. At the same time, settled claims had their legally agreed review clauses removed, and women are now barred from raising new claims for a decade. Violation of International Human Rights The coalition argues that the government's actions breach Article 11 of CEDAW, which guarantees women the right to equal pay for work of equal value, as well as Article 2(3)(a) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which ensures access to effective legal remedies. 'What we are witnessing is state-sanctioned gender pay discrimination,' said McGregor. 'And there are now no domestic legal remedies left for many of these women. This is a full-scale retreat from fairness, accountability, and our international commitments.' Call for a UN Visit and Monitoring PECA has formally requested the Commission on the Status of Women to: • Conduct a country visit to hear directly from affected women, including Māori, Pacific, and migrant workers; • If a visit is not feasible, undertake a desk-based investigation and independent monitoring report; • Place New Zealand's regression on the international agenda to ensure accountability for the erosion of women's rights. 'New Zealand has been held up as a global leader in gender equality. That reputation is now at serious risk,' said McGregor. 'This government has not only abandoned its legal obligations — it has silenced the voices of women, ignored civil society, and turned its back on a generation of progress.' PECA's membership includes major trade unions and national women's organisations such as E Tū, NZNO, PSA, Aotearoa Women's Watch, YWCA Aotearoa, National Council of Women, and many others committed to gender equity. 'This is not just a domestic issue. The world is watching,' McGregor added. 'And we invite the international community to stand with New Zealand women in demanding that justice be restored.'
Scoop
6 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
'Once A Poster Girl, Now An International Laggard': Pay Equity Appeal Goes To UN
A pay equity advocacy group is making an urgent appeal to the United Nations (UN) to investigate the government's changes to pay equity laws. The Pay Equity Coalition Aotearoa (PECA) has made a formal submission to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to investigate what it calls a "historic and deliberate regression" of women's economic and political rights in New Zealand. In its appeal, PECA outlines how the Equal Pay Amendment Act has dismantled the country's pay equity system, cancelling 33 live claims covering more than 180,000 women, many of whom are low-paid essential workers in care, health, education, and public services. The group's Dame Judy McGregor told Nine to Noon it had informed Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of the request about a fortnight ago, which had been done "in a spirit of desperation". "It's an unprecedented step," she said. After pleas to the government to review and potentially repeal the legislation, it felt dialogue between the independent CSW and the government would be useful, Dame Judy said. "Perhaps a country visit in which a committee member can hear the stories and witness personally the anger and despair… thousands of women, many of whom are Māori and Pasifika migrant women workers who really now are condemned to decades and, in some cases, a lifetime of poverty wages." The submission stated $12.8b previously set aside to address pay equity claims had been diverted by the government for other budgetary purposes. The group believed the legislation breached Article 11 of the UN's Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which guaranteed women the right to equal pay for work of equal value, as well as Article 2(3)(a) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which ensured access to effective legal remedies. Dame Judy bemoaned New Zealand's reputational slide on gender equity issues. "I think New Zealand has gone from being a poster girl for gender equality now to probably an international laggard," she said. PECA alerted Luxon of the submission about a fortnight ago "as a courtesy". "Given women weren't given that courtesy in relation to pay equity, we felt at least the government should," Dame Judy said. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Women's Minister Nicola Grigg had also been alerted. No response had been received from the prime minister's office, other than receipt of the correspondence. The group was also considering filing a complaint to the UN's Optional Protocol to the CEDAW. Union backs move In a statement, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) said it backed PECA's appeal. Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges said cancelling pay equity for more than 180,000 working women was a "flagrant attack on their economic and political rights". "PECA are right to call for action from the United Nations to ensure that Aotearoa New Zealand lives up to its reputation on the world stage. "Overnight our world-leading system was gutted without consultation or normal checks and balances. What remained in its place is a series of roadblocks, thresholds and obstacles masquerading as pay equity." NZCTU said New Zealand was once proud to be world leaders for making progress on ensuring women were paid what they were worth. "It is shameful that our government has such low regard for women's rights," Ansell-Bridges said. "This government refuses to listen. We must use every forum to pressure them to restore pay equity claims. In June I raised pay equity at the International Labour Organization conference, and support taking the fight to the UN." Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden earlier this week said the pay equity changes were made to ensure genuine instances of pay inequity are identified and resolved. "As a government, we want to be sure that the pay equity process is robust, workable and sustainable and getting the settings right for claims that demonstrate genuine sex-based discrimination," van Velden said. "Equal pay is here to stay. Pay equity remains open as a process and the law is more robust." When the changes were rolled out earlier this year, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said claims the government was "cutting pay for women" were incorrect. "Equal pay remains, no change. Pay parity remains, no change. Collective bargaining remains, no change. Settlements that have already happened under pay equity, no change." RNZ has sought comment from Peters, Griggs and Luxon.
