Social workers and education, behaviour and communication support workers will be the first in New Zealand to make a claim under new pay equity provisions.
The Government is yet to legally cement recommendations made by the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity, accepted last year, but Minister for Women Paula Bennett said yesterday they were a step closer to being applied.
The Public Services Association’s claim for Ministry of Social Development social workers will be progressed using the new principles, developed to make it easier for women to file claims with employers rather than go through the courts.
The New Zealand Education Institute will also progress a claim for education, behaviour and communication support workers.
Pay equity legislation is expected to be introduced to Parliament this year, Prime Minister Bill English said last month.
