Glass ceiling still intact this International Women’s Day

Women at the very top of New Zealand’s state sector are still undervalued and underpaid relative to their male counterparts, according to new analysis by the Public Service Association.

On International Women’s Day, the PSA’s National Secretary Erin Polaczuk says the public service must resolve to do better by its female staffers.

This year’s theme is "Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality", and the PSA says equal pay is a crucial part of the equation for New Zealand.

Women make up 60 per cent of the public service and 42 per cent of senior management positions.

But the top 10 highest-earning chief executives are all men - while the bottom 5 are all women.

"The State Sector Act requires the public service to be good employers by offering equal opportunities," Ms Polaczuk says.

"But the average public sector woman is paid 14 per cent less than the average man, which is why the PSA launched its Worth 100% campaign.

"Right from the bottom to the very top, women are still paid less than men.

"Public sector CEOs are men and women who’ve reached the pinnacle of their profession and are responsible for services that make New Zealanders’ lives better.

"Yet once again, we see men are valued more highly than women.

"This International Women’s Day, the PSA says women at all levels of the public service are worth 100%.

"We also call upon the New Zealand government to join the UN’s Step It Up campaign and make a national commitment to closing the gender gap."

ENDS

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