Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Pay equity report an indicator of gender inequality
Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, welcomed yesterday’s release of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment and Workplace Relations’ report, saying it yet again highlighted the urgent and overdue need to close the growing gender pay gap.
“One of the most important reforms proposed in this report is the elevation of the principle of equal pay for work of equal or comparable value from a ‘good to have’ to an ‘unambiguous obligation’,” Commissioner Broderick said.
Commissioner Broderick said the Making it Fair: pay equity and associated issues related to increasing female participation in the workforce report provided further evidence of the systemic and worsening nature of the problem in Australia.
“It is refreshing to see this report recognise the gender pay gap as systemic gender discrimination that has life long impacts,” said Commissioner Broderick. “At it's core the gender pay gap is overt and direct sex discrimination.”
“Many women I speak to who are entering retirement, often with significantly less retirement savings than their male counterparts, comment on the inequity of having spent a lifetime working but, because of pay inequality, ending up with little financial security,” Commissioner Broderick said.
Reforms proposed in the report include significant changes to Australia’s industrial relations system, gender equality legislation and gender equality mechanisms, as well as specific changes which could benefit women working in low paid occupations.
“The recommendations for the establishment of several new mechanisms and processes to achieve pay equity are very welcome,” said Commissioner Broderick. “They have the potential to greatly strengthen the position of women in the workplace.”
Ms Broderick said she was pleased the report recognised that many of the occupations in which women work in Australia have been historically undervalued, and that this could now be taken into account when minimum wages and awards are being set.
Commissioner Broderick specifically noted the recommendations for the introduction of a positive duty on organisations to respect and implement a woman’s right to equal remuneration and the obligation for organisations to report regularly and transparently on the gender pay gap.
Media contact: Brinsley Marlay 02 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529
