Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Labour wants to close gender pay gap

Updated at 9:57 am on 19 September 2011

Labour says it will legislate to make it easier to compare pay rates to help close the gender pay gap.

Labour issued its women's policy on Monday morning to coincide with Sufferage Day.

Spokesperson Carol Beaumont says women still earn on average 12% less per hour than men and are less likely to hold leadership roles.

She says Labour will seek to increase transparency so women can check whether they are getting paid the same as others doing the same job.

Ms Beaumont says Labour also wants to reinstate the goal of having half of the positions on state sector boards filled by women.

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