Proposed Changes Will Halt The Social Service Workers Pay Equity Claim
The proposed amendments will end the progress of the claim – a long-standing issue for many in the sector. Te Pai Ora SSPA has been acting as sector coordinator and representative.
The Social Service Workers Pay Equity claim covers around 1200 workers from eight representative provider organisations, this is estimated to be about 10% of the overall social sector workforce. 70% of the kaimahi who will be impacted by today's decision are female.
'Our sector is already under immense pressure, with many providers facing funding cuts and reductions to critical services to children and whānau,' says Belinda Himiona, Chief Executive of Te Pai Ora SSPA.
'These proposed changes to the Equal Pay Act add another layer of uncertainty and concern. Our kaimahi work tirelessly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and whānau, and it is important that their efforts are recognised and fairly compensated.'
The Social Services Workers Pay Equity Claim covers a range of roles including Youth Workers, Family Support Workers, Financial Mentors, Foodbank Co-ordinators, Therapists, as well as a wide range of roles providing support for front-line services.
'The claim has already faced delays and complications due to policy changes by the government last year. Today's announcement introduces new barriers,' says Himiona.
In response, Te Pai Ora SSPA has been forced to pause further work on the claim while seeking clarity of the full implications of the changes.
Te Pai Ora SSPA is concerned that the Government intends to amend the Equal Pay Act under urgency, limiting opportunities for submissions and public consultation. The organisation strongly believes that any changes to the Act must be made with the full picture and an understanding of the impacts from the sector and those directly affected.
'The Social Service Workers claim covers a wide range of critical roles that provide essential services to children and families across Aotearoa New Zealand,' says Himiona.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
Pandemic Perspectives Focus Of COVID-19 Inquiry Public Hearing Next Week
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned will next week hear a range of perspectives on the pandemic as the Inquiry's first public hearing begins. The Inquiry's 'Pandemic Perspectives' public hearing will take place between Monday 7 July and Friday 11 July. This hearing will allow Commissioners to hear from groups, organisations, and individuals from around Aotearoa New Zealand about their experiences of the pandemic and the Government's response to COVID-19. 'The Pandemic Perspectives public hearing will allow us, in the open, to hear a range of experiences as well as suggestions for future pandemic responses. It is important we listen to these voices and ask key questions, so we can develop robust findings and recommendations,' says Grant Illingworth KC, Chair of the Inquiry. Individuals, organisations and experts will talk about the effects of key public health decisions, including social division and isolation, health and education, and business activity. Commissioners are focusing the hearing on three key areas of the Inquiry's terms of reference and that have been key themes raised in public submissions already received by the Inquiry: · Lockdowns in 2021, in particular the extended lockdown in Auckland and Northland from September 2021. · Vaccine approvals and safety. · Introduction and use of vaccine mandates throughout 2021 and 2022. The hearing schedule and list of witnesses is available on the Inquiry's website: A second and final public hearing will take place from 20 August to 27 August in Pōneke Wellington, where Commissioners will hear from key decision makers who led the Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and from senior public servants. 'As Commissioners, our job is to identify lessons from the country's COVID-19 response to ensure that as a nation, we can be better prepared for future pandemics,' says Mr Illingworth. 'Our goal is to provide recommendations – that can be understood by all New Zealanders – to help build a strong response for the future. 'We need a well-organised, resilient, robust defence, and we need to be able to come together as a country to face future pandemics.' Alongside the public hearings, the Inquiry has also held interviews with key decision makers, met with individuals and organisations who experienced the pandemic and the response to it, gathered 31,000 public submissions, and sought extensive written evidence from Government departments and other organisations. 'We are encouraged by and thank the 31,000 of you who shared your experiences through our recent public submissions process. I also thank the huge number of people and organisations we've met in engagements up and down the country. Your experiences and perspectives are vital to our work,' says Mr Illingworth. The 'Pandemic Perspectives' public hearing will be streamed on the Inquiry's website so it can be watched live by the public. Registered media will be able to attend the hearing for reporting purposes. A range of accessible resources will also be available during and after the hearings. Due to physical limitations, the Inquiry cannot accommodate members of the public.
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Watch live: Christopher Luxon faces questions at ambulance service visit
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to face questions as he speaks to reporters after visiting Hato Hone St John in Auckland. We'll be livestreaming his comments at the top of this page shortly. It comes as the government turns its attention to the next quarter with Luxon citing cost of living pressures as a continuing pressure. There is also pressure from the Telecommunications Forum over the failure of the 111 system for Golden Bay residents yesterday as another storm hit the region. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
5 hours ago
- NZ Herald
PM Christopher Luxon to speak after slew of law and order announcements
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to speak in Auckland following his Government's barrage of law and order announcements. Luxon is expected to front media about 12.45pm following an engagement with St John. A livestream can be found at the top of the article. One of the first law and order announcements of the week was proposing longer prison sentences for people who assault first responders, such as paramedics, firefighters and prison officers. The changes would create a new offence for assaulting an on-duty first responder or prison officer. The maximum sentences for assaulting with intent to injure, or injuring with intent to injure, would be increased by two years. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith described violence against first responders and prison officers as 'heinous'. 'Where others may flee, first responders and prison officers run towards danger to help those who need urgent assistance,' Goldsmith said. 'Assaulting them puts multiple lives at risk, so there must be greater consequences for these heinous acts of violence. Our hardworking police officers, firefighters, paramedics and prison officers deserve better.' The proposed changes include: Assaulting a first responder or prison officer to have a maximum sentence of three years' imprisonment. This expands an existing provision on assaulting police to cover all first responders and prison officers. Assaulting a first responder or prison officer with intent to injure will have a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment. This is a two-year increase in penalty from the standard offence. Injuring a first responder or prison officer with intent to injure will have a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment and will be added to Three Strikes. This is also a two-year increase in penalty from the standard offence. Goldsmith, along with other ministers from NZ First and Act, announced several more measures aimed at increasing punishments for those committing offences, particularly retail crime. They included specific coward punch offences, strengthening trespass laws and introducing a new fines regime for shoplifters.
