Almost a decade of inaction on the gender pay gap under the previous government has resulted in women continuing to
earn less than men in every age bracket, according to latest data released by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).

On average, women earn $483.30 less per week than men, largely due to women shouldering the majority of care responsibilities and making up 61 per cent of workers reliant on Award and minimum wages.

The WGEA attribute 20 per cent of the pay gap problem to women-dominated industries in care and education being undervalued and underpaid.

Women have lost nearly a decade under the previous government, and action is urgently needed to restart the work of closing the gender pay gap.

The union movement welcomes the action already taken by the Albanese Government in committing to providing 10 days of Paid Family and Domestic Violence leave through the NES, but more work is required, including the government’s commitments to include Gender Equity in the Fair Work Act, full implementation of the Respect@Work report recommendations, prohibiting pay secrecy and enforcing public reporting of pay gaps by employers.