The Government want to make it easier for workers to lodge pay equity claims, introducing a proposed law on the 125th anniversary women first got the vote in New Zealand.
Workplace Relations Minister Iain Lees Galloway said today he was proud to take "the next step to address historic inequities in pay for women".
He said The Equal Pay Amendment Bill was intended to make the process of making pay equity claims simplified and more accessible.
Acting Women's Minister Eugenie Sage said the bill was "one piece of the puzzle" in striving to close the gender pay gap.
"Discrimination has led to lower pay for many female-dominated industries, despite having similar working conditions and skill requirements to comparable male-dominated occupations."
Earlier this year, National MP Denise Lee's Members' Bill on pay equity was voted down.
It intended to "eliminate and prevent discrimination on the basis of sex" in employment pay, and to also "promote enduring settlement of claims relating to sex discrimination on pay equity grounds".
Labour MP Megan Woods saying there were "some very simple mechanistic reasons contained within this legislation why that would not occur", and fellow MP Jan Tinetti saying "this bill does put things backwards for pay equity". Labour, National and NZ First voted against it.
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