13 May 2025
Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister
Hon. Brooke van Velden
Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety
Hon. Nicola Grigg
Minister for Women
We, the representatives of the faith-based social service sector, call on the Government of Aotearoa New Zealand to urgently repeal the Pay Equity Amendment Bill 2025 and restore pay equity processes for those in female dominated care industries.
The work of carers for our most vulnerable New Zealanders will remain undervalued
The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) represents organisations that deliver support for families facing disadvantages and challenges, for tamariki and rangatahi by providing opportunities and support, and for our older people who need care and assistance. Social service providers are critical to a thriving Aotearoa. These organisations and their hard-working staff deserve to be paid fairly and have the value of their mahi recognised. The recently passed Pay Equity Amendment Bill undermines the social sector by failing to recognise and value the work of kaimahi who care for New Zealanders.
The changes to pay equity legislation will undermine progress for working women in New Zealand
New Zealand has always been a leader for women’s rights, including democratic participation and representation. Yet women remain penalised by the gender wage pay gap and are underpaid compared to men in New Zealand, with substantially higher gaps for wāhine Māori, Pacific and Asian women, and disabled women. This Pay Equity Amendment Bill that was passed under urgency will create another barrier for equal rights and equal pay for women in New Zealand. This decision will take working women’s rights backward. Many families in New Zealand are already facing challenges with cost of living pressures, particularly as minimum wage no longer keeps pace with inflation, and main benefits no longer keep up with wage growth. We are requesting the Government recognise the valuable work of women and others in female-dominated industries by investing in equitable wages.
The pay equity legislation process was undemocratic
Pay equity legislation and processes have been decades in the making, yet progress was undone in a matter of days without a full legislative process. Passing the Pay Equity Amendment Bill under urgency without any select committee or public consultation has taken away the voice of workers and the general public. This action was not signalled in this Government’s Quarterly Plan, blindsiding the sector and undermining our faith that our voices will be heard in the legislative progress. Not having the opportunity to provide feedback and input into such fundamental legislative change does not align with New Zealand’s democratic process and the values of community and freedom of speech that we uphold as a nation.
Ceasing existing pay equity claims fails to recognise the hard work that has gone into claims
The scrapping of 33 active pay equity claims is a devastating blow for the huge number of people who had worked on these claims. Experts and advocates have invested their time and energy into this process only to have their claims halted without warning, consultation or engagement. In the social sector this means that social service workers, care and support workers and other health workers who spent time above and beyond servicing their communities to contribute to this process have had their hard work ignored.
We urge the Government to engage with the social sector in the spirit of partnership and transparency. Let’s work together to ensure social sector workers and others in female-dominated industries are recognised for their valuable contribution to New Zealand.
Ngā mihi nui,
