Equal Pay Day Highlights Unacceptable Pay Gap
Minister for Women Fiona Richardson and Minister for Industrial Relations Natalie Hutchins have today, on Equal Pay Day, highlighted the unacceptable pay gap between men and women.
Equal Pay Day marks the period of extra days in the current financial year that a woman would need to work to achieve the same wages as a man. This year, the figure sits at an extra 65 days.
According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, the pay gap nationally sits at 17.86% for full time, ordinary weekly earnings, while the total weekly earning gap is 20.85%.
While no industry is immune to the gender pay gap, some industries are clearly performing worse than others, with a 29.6 per cent gap in the healthcare and social assistance sector, 27.4 per cent in renting, hiring and real estate and 25.6 per cent in the construction industry.
The pay gap between men and women sends the wrong message to women that they are not valued in the workplace and serves as a disincentive for women to return to work after having children.
The Andrews Labor Government is committed to achieving pay equality for men and women.
The Labor Government has led by example by requiring that no less than 50 per cent of all appointments to paid Government boards and Victorian courts will be women.
The Government has also called on the Federal Government to tackle the issue at a national level, as part of its submission to the Productivity Commission’s Workplace Relations Framework inquiry.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Women Fiona Richardson
“Better attitudes towards women start with better outcomes for women. Achieving gender pay equality is one of the many steps towards building a culture of respect and non-violence towards women.”
“Our daughters deserve all of the same opportunities as our sons and Equal Pay Day is an important time to reflect on the importance of working together to erode gender stereotypes and work towards equality.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industrial Relations Natalie Hutchins
“Female participation in the workplace is integral to our economic success, and it’s vital and only fair that women are rewarded equally for the work they do.”
“Equal Pay Day is an opportunity to reflect on our pay gap and work towards a better future. We raised this issue in our submission to the Federal Government’s Productivity Commission report, and it’s an issue we’ll keep raising.”