Why we support the Employment Relations Amendment Bill
One of the many aspects of living in Aotearoa that Kore Hiakai celebrate is our ability to be active in the decisions made that govern our lives. Kore Hiakai are grateful to be able to participate in our democratic processes, especially the parliamentary processes that allow all voices to come to the table to be heard on legislation that comes before the House. While it has been a busy time of submitting on various bills in recent months, we were particularly delighted to be able to submit in support of the changes to the Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill.
This Bill amends the Employment Relations Act 2000, to ensure that employees can discuss and disclose their own pay rate to others without detrimental repercussions to their employment. This would lead to greater transparency in pay and allow any pay discrimination to be more easily identified and remedied. It gives power to employees to share their information and to challenge unjust discrimination.
Kore Hiakai celebrates this proposed change that will eliminate the kind of secrecy that allows pay gaps to persist. Research shows the extent to which pay gaps highlight the lifelong impacts of inequity based on gender and ethnicity. As of late 2024, New Zealand’s gender pay gap is about 8.2 percent, meaning women earn on average 8.2 percent less than men for similar work – for every $1 a man earns, a woman earns $.092. For Māori and Pasifika women, the disparities are significantly larger - every $1 a pākehā man makes, a Māori woman makes $0.81 and a Pasifika woman just $0.79. These gaps have long term impacts on their ability to afford housing, their savings, and their financial wellbeing when they enter retirement.
Kore Hiakai’s vision is for a Food Secure Aotearoa where all can thrive. Food insecurity is experienced disproportionately by those who suffer the most from pay gaps. The latest New Zealand Health Survey finds that women and children, Māori and Pasifika people are among those most affected by food insecurity. The survey revealed in the 12 months prior to the 2023/24 survey that 27% of children lived in households where food ran out often or sometimes. For Pacific peoples, 54.8% of children, and for Māori, 34.3% of children were living in households where food ran out often or sometimes. While food insecurity is experienced by people, it is driven by systems, including those systems that perpetuate pay inequity. Closing pay gaps can make a big difference to helping our whānau thrive. These legislative changes that help towards improving pay equity also help towards liveable incomes and food security.
We encourage others who share our vision for equity and an Aotearoa where all can thrive to join us in bringing your voice to the table. Check out this handy resource from our friends at the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services to help you write your next submission.