8. Question No. 8—Workplace Relations and SafetyJAN LOGIE (Green) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and SafetyQuestion No. 8—Workplace Relations and Safety8. JAN LOGIE (Green) to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Will he introduce a comprehensive pay transparency model to help eliminate pay discrimination before the end of this parliamentary term; if not why not?Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety): I thank the member for her question. The Government is committed to eliminating pay discrimination in Aotearoa New Zealand and making it easier for women to achieve pay equity. We've already made good progress towards these aims. We've passed the equal pay Act in 2020 to make it easier for women in female-dominated occupations to be paid fairly for the work they do and we're making good progress on settlements. We've championed the first ever Women's Employment Action Plan which has been taken forward by my colleague the Hon Jan Tinetti. I'm pleased to also confirm that we'll be shortly introducing fair pay agreements which will help women who are especially marginalised in the labour market to increase their wages. As the member will be aware the Education and Workforce Committee will shortly be reporting the findings of its briefing into pay transparency back to the House. Following this the Government will consider its response to the committee's findings and assess the next steps for progressing this important work. Jan Logie: Does the Minister think it is equitable that in 2021 wāhine Māori were paid almost 25 percent less and Pasifika women 27 percent less than Pākehā men; if not what new actions will he take to close this gap? Hon MICHAEL WOOD: I don't think that any reasonable person would consider that to be an equitable or a fair outcome. That's why in line with the comments in my primary question I've outlined the fact that the Government has a broad-based programme to address these issues—the work we're doing on fair pay agreements; the work we're doing to lift the minimum wage which will disproportionately benefit those in low-income occupations—and I will confirm again that the Government will be looking with great interest at the report of the select committee to consider what the next steps can be to make sure that we have genuine pay equity for all New Zealand workers. Jan Logie: Does the Minister agree that women Māori and Pasifika and disabled peoples will benefit from greater transparency as studies have shown pay transparency decreases wage gaps on lower and middle incomes and helps career progression? Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Yes I'd broadly agree with the assessment that greater pay transparency does assist with pay equity but I note that it's not all that simple. There are countries that do have pay transparency arrangements where the gender pay gap is in fact wider than New Zealand's is at the moment. One of the things that appears to be important from the research that I have seen on this matter is how a pay transparency regime is designed and there are important questions to consider such as whether reporting and transparency is sufficient or whether there should be additional measures within the system to drive outcomes. Those are the sorts of questions that we'll be considering in light of the select committee's report. Jan Logie: Will his Government commit to ensuring all similarly sized organisations join those on New Zealand's first pay gap registry launched today? Hon MICHAEL WOOD: I do take note of the pay gap registry that has been set up by Mind the Gap and announced today and I think there's something important for the House to note here which is that while it is important for there to be leadership from the Government there is also a very important role for private sector leaders—who employ most New Zealanders—to stand up and start taking action on this issue. I think the establishment of the registry is a good step. I would encourage organisations who want to deal better with pay equity issues to engage with it and I again confirm my comments from earlier that the Government will be looking at the recommendations and views of the select committee to establish what further steps we can take. Jan Logie: Does the Minister expect to see legislation introduced this term in the wake of the select committee's report knowing that the Government committed to progressing pay transparency this term in July 2020? Hon MICHAEL WOOD: As I have outlined the Government is committed to this issue and is taking real steps to deal with this issue and make sure that we make progress on pay equity and I note that we have made progress over our term of Government. The gender pay gap has dropped from around 12 percent in 2016 to 9.1 percent as of 2021. That's not good enough. There is more work to be done but what I would say to the member is that with an issue like this we do want to do it properly. So there's a strong level of commitment. We want to examine the evidence we'll examine the select committee's report and then we'll make considered decisions that make sure that we advance towards the goal that we all agree with which is pay equity and fairness for all New Zealand workers. Jan Logie: I seek leave to table a letter from the Hon Iain Lees-Galloway and Julie Anne Genter from July 2020 committing to progressing pay transparency as a Government. SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that letter being tabled? There appears to be none. Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.