Global Women reaffirms support for pay equity and expressed concern over recent legislative changes in a submission to the People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity.
In the submission, Global Women CEO Katie Bhreatnach underscored the importance of equal pay for work of equal value, calling it not only a matter of fairness and human rights, but also essential to economic performance, leadership diversity, and improved outcomes for families and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.
With concern about the legislative process behind the Equal Pay Amendment Act 2025, Katie Bhreatnach, CEO of Global Women says, “We believe meaningful engagement with workers, employers, unions, and community groups is essential to good lawmaking. The process behind this Act has an impact on confidence among women already engaged in pay equity claims.”
The submission highlights the issue of forcing existing claimants, many of whom work in undervalued sectors such as care, education support, and community services, to restart their claims. It also warns of the impacts on wāhine Māori, Pasifika women, and migrant women, which research consistently shows are already facing systemic barriers in the workforce.
From an employer standpoint, the submission stresses the importance of clarity, fairness, and certainty in legislation. Global Women encourage continued support for mechanisms that enable leadership and accountability on pay equity within organisations, including through voluntary reporting, transparency and inclusive workplace practices.
“Global Women remains deeply committed to advancing gender equity in both leadership and pay,” says Katie Bhreatnach. “We will continue to advocate for inclusive, evidence-based approaches that deliver fair outcomes to all women in Aotearoa.”