PSA Takes Pay Equity Case under Human Rights Law

A landmark complaint designed to test how the Human Rights Act can be used to remedy gender discrimination has been received by the Human Rights Commission.

The Public Service Association’s National Secretary, Brenda Pilott, told roundtable delegates that the PSA brought the case against both the Government and the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development when the Government put a stop to plans to respond to the large pay gap affecting CYF social workers.

A Pay and Employment Equity Review found that the social workers, a largely female workforce, earn 9.5% less than their male colleagues - a greater gap than any other category of workers in the Ministry of Social Development.

“A response plan between the Ministry, as employer, and the PSA was underway but not completed when the Government pulled the plug on it in February, without even discussing it with us”, said Brenda Pilott. “We decided we couldn’t let this just rest; we had to advance the issue.”

The PSA decided to lodge a formal complaint of discrimination under the Human Rights Act.   “It’s the first time the legislation has been tested in this way, so we’re keenly awaiting the outcome”, she said.

The Human Rights Commission has notified the parties to the complaint.