The Employers and Manufacturers Association boss has caused outraged after suggestion women get paid less than men because they have monthly ‘sick problems’ and babies.
In an interview with Newstalk ZB this morning, EMA chief executive Alasdair Thompson admitted there was a gender pay gap in New Zealand, but said it was because they needed sick days every month, along with extra leave to care for children.
“The fact is, women have babies. They take time out of their careers,” he said.
“Look at who takes the most sick leave. Women do, in general. Why? Because once a month they have sick problems. Not all women, but some do. They have children, they have to take time off to go home and take leave.”
Mr Thompson said he realised the comments made him sound sexist but “it’s a fact of life”.
His comments come amid the release of a new Green Party bill which aims to tackle pay inequality.
The bill would give female workers the right to see what their male colleagues are earning – but would have to make it into law first. It needs to be drawn from Parliament’s ballot before it can be debated.
Speaking on RadioLIVE this morning, Green MP Catherine Delahunty said women’s work is still valued less than men’s and it is time that changed.
“Since the Equal Pay Act came in, in 1972, we know there’s still a gender pay gap but it’s been very difficult for women to actually be able to access information if they suspected people were not being paid the same money for the same work because of their gender,” she says.
Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly told the New Zealand Herald the comments showed Mr Thompson needed to retire and that he was clearly accusing women of taking time off during their menstrual cycle.
Ms Kelly said the gender wage gap was mainly due to workplace discrimination.
“Look at the EMA board. It’s all white men,” she said.
But Mr Thompson this morning said he believes most people would agree with the “guts” of his statements.
“In the context of the whole interview, 90 percent would support my viewpont and 10 percent would be against.”
Ms Delahunty said Mr Thompson's ideas were "19th Century" and a possible breach of the Equal Pay Act 1972. He needs to “get with the programme”, she said.
"He's saying we're not entitled to equal pay because women are women - because we have the capacity to give birth and have children. He's in a leadership role and it's pretty much rubbish.”
Ms Delahunty plans to ask Women's Affairs Minister Hekia Parata to get the Government to support her bill.
3 News
source: newshub archive
