Report on five-year plan shows progress and challenges
A progress report on New Brunswick’s five-year wage gap reduction initiative shows the gap increased slightly from 12 per cent in 2006 to 12.6 per cent in 2007.
The gain is attributed to employment and wage increases in the traditionally male-dominated construction sector but “is not acceptable to government, and is certainly not acceptable to the women of New Brunswick,” said Mary Schryer, minister responsible for the status of women.
The plan launched in 2005 to reduce the wage gap to 10 per cent by 2010. But progress is being made through a number of programs and workshops, she said, such as pay equity implemented in government departments and public schools. Pay equity programs have been launched for home-support workers in agencies contracted by the government, as well as for child-care staff in provincially registered child-care facilities.
A social marketing plan will also focus on educating employers about the benefits of a wage-gap-free workplace and recognize employers that have instituted pay equity programs and other wage-gap-reduction initiatives.
