The bill amends the Employment Relations Act 2000 so that employees who discuss or disclose their own remuneration are protected, with the effect of making pay secrecy clauses unenforceable. It includes exclusions for certain business-ownership arrangements.
This bill amends the Employment Relations Act 2000 to protect employees who choose to discuss or disclose how much they are paid. It targets so-called pay secrecy clauses — terms in employment agreements that stop workers from telling colleagues their salary or wages. Under the change, an employer cannot treat an employee adversely (such as disciplining or dismissing them) simply for asking about, discussing, or revealing their own remuneration. It applies to all employees and employers.
It is a member's bill from Labour list MP Camilla Belich, reflecting pay-transparency ideas adopted in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and parts of the United States. Supporters argue that openness about pay helps expose and close gender and ethnic pay gaps and lets workers check they are being paid fairly. Opponents argue that pay is commercially sensitive and personal, that confidentiality protects privacy, and that requiring disclosure could fuel workplace friction or add compliance cost for employers.
See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.