SociaLink Tūhono Pāpori has made a submission to the People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity as part of our advocacy role – speaking up for the social and community sector and working towards equity and social justice.
What is the People’s Select Committee?
The People’s Select Committee was established after the Government passed the Pay Equity Amendment Act 2025 under urgency, bypassing the usual democratic select committee process that ensures public and expert input on significant matters. The Committee, made up of respected and experienced New Zealanders, is gathering independent submissions to inform public understanding and future policy. Learn more at payequity.org.nz.
What is the Pay Equity Amendment Act?
The Pay Equity Amendment Act 2025 significantly changes the process for pursuing pay equity claims in Aotearoa. It halts 33 existing claims, raises the threshold for future ones, and was passed under urgency with no opportunity for public submissions or a regulatory impact statement. These actions have raised widespread concern across the community, disability, education, and health sectors.
Our Position
We are deeply concerned about the implications of the Act for our sector, which is largely made up of wāhine in underpaid, undervalued roles that are essential to Aotearoa’s wellbeing. Our submission, informed by our research and engagement with local organisations, outlines the serious consequences of this legislation and reinforces our support for fair, just, and properly funded pay equity processes.
SociaLink stands firmly against the Pay Equity Amendment Act 2025. We support the analysis and recommendations made by Te Pai Ora Social Service Providers Aotearoa, whose submission provides an excellent and detailed overview of the broader context and consequences of the legislation. Te Pai Ora has been extensively involved in pay equity claims and brings invaluable insight into how this Act affects the sector and the people within it.
Pay equity is not just about wages – it’s about respect, recognition, and retaining a skilled, committed workforce that supports some of Aotearoa’s most vulnerable communities.
This new law introduces significant barriers to making and settling claims. It threatens to undo decades of progress, further entrench gender-based pay gaps, and disproportionately affect women working in female-dominated fields like social and community services.
You can read SociaLink’s submission here.
It was prepared by Liz Stewart, Researcher, and Liz Davies, Chief Executive, as part of SociaLink’s commitment to advocating for a strong, fairly funded, and equitable community sector.
