NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand’s main Public Service union has expressed concern at the lack of gender balance in the announcement of five male Chief Executives.
State Services Commissioner, Peter Hughes (pictured) said the appointments would take effect later this year or early next and three more Chief Executive posts would be advertised in the coming months.
While congratulating the new Chief Executives, Joint National Secretary of the Public Service Association, Erin Polaczuk noted that once the appointments were in place only 12 out of 31 Chief Executives would be female.
“Overall, around 60 per cent of Public Service employees are women, but only 42 per cent of Chief Executives,” Ms Polaczuk said.
“Maori, Pasifika and Asian people are also massively under-represented.”
The appointments also came under fire from a leading Auckland academic, who described them as unwise and premature.
Professor of Public Policy and former Director of the Policy Observatory, Professor Ian Shirley said major issues had emerged over recent years in both the performance and the culture of some Government Departments.
Citing the areas of housing and welfare as in urgent need of reform, Professor Shirley said the “only question is how?”.
“Until that happens the State Services Commission should be holding back on Chief Executive appointments,” Professor Shirley said.
Meanwhile, Minister of State Services, Chris Hipkins has announced that all employees in the core Public Service will receive an hourly rate of at least NZ$20.55 (A$19.11), which is the “2018 Living Wage”.
The new rate, the annualised equivalent of NZ$42,744, (A$39,747) includes full-time, part-time and casual employees and will be implemented by a one-off adjustment in pay with effect by 1 September.
Mr Hipkins said most of the officers who would benefit were in 13 Government Departments, and were clerical and administration workers, welfare workers, contact centre workers and assistant customs officers.
“The Departments will meet the estimated NZ$7.23 million [A$6.72 million] cost of the one-off adjustment from within their baselines,” Mr Hipkins said.
Wellington, 16 June 2018
