A resthome worker who was paid less than $15 an hour after working in the industry for more than 20 years has set a precedent for gender pay equality in the industry after taking her case to the Employment Court
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Lower Hutt caregiver Kristine Bartlett argued that her low pay rate was a result of gender discrimination under the Equal Pay Act.
Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU) national secretary John Ryall said Ms Bartlett's case showed her pay rate of $14.32 an hour after more than 20 years of caregiving for the elderly, was based on her gender rather than her skills, effort and responsibility.
Her case was taken to the Employment Court by the union against her employer Terranova Homes and Care Limited.
The result was a huge step forward for women workers, Mr Ryall said.
A bench of three Employment Court judges found the union correctly interpreted the Equal Pay Act to mean that large occupational groups of women workers, such as caregiving, should receive a rate of pay equal to what would paid if that occupational group was male-dominated.
Mr Ryall said the outcome was the greatest advance for the rights of working women since the passing of the Equal Pay Act in 1972 and would be celebrated by caregivers and other low-paid women workers throughout New Zealand.
"This is a hard-won and historic victory that offers hope for low-paid women at last. For far too long 'women's work' has been under-valued and underpaid.
"The court has recognised that caregivers are paid abysmally low pay rates because they are women and has dismissed Business New Zealand arguments about the cost of removing pay discrimination as akin to the economic arguments against removing slavery."
Mr Ryall said the union was keen to engage in a process with the aged care employers and government funders, under the umbrella of the Employment Court to set a fair rate of pay for caregivers.
"Thousands of caregivers across New Zealand will now be invited to join the Equal Pay case."
