Media Release
26 August 2008
For more information contact
Nicole Parsons 0412 505 854 or
Cheryl Seeto (02) 9448 8514
Equal Pay Day: Women short changed at June 30
The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) has named August 27 Equal
Pay Day and is calling on employers to conduct a pay audit in their workplace.
With women earning just 84 cents in the male dollar, women effectively have to work longer to earn
the same money as a man.
To match the average wage a man earns in 12 months or the financial year working full time
ordinary hours, a woman has to work an extra 54 days, or a total of 14 months to earn the same.
August 27, 2008 marks the day when women’s average salary catches up to what men have
banked by June 30 2008.
Anna McPhee Director of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency said “there will
be no ribbons, wrist bands or special clothing to promote Equal Pay Day on August 27.”
“Women already have less hourly pay, less weekly pay, less annual pay and less total
superannuation savings, we wouldn’t want them to give up any more of their hard earned pay to
support this day.”
Employers can support Equal Pay Day by initiating a pay audit in their workplace and respond
where appropriate with transparent payment and promotion criteria, a meaningful work valuation
assessment, review of overtime payments, provision of flexible work practices for all staff, removal
of gender bias from performance reviews and where appropriate increases in pay for women.
Despite being granted equal pay for equal work more than 30 years ago in the 1972 Equal Pay
Case, pay equity has not been achieved.
“Pay equity is not just about equal pay for equal work. The 15.6% gender wage gap reveals the
systemic discrimination in the under-valuation of women’s work”, said Anna McPhee
The impact of pay inequity in our society is costly not only to women, but also to families,
government and the community. Women’s life time earnings are low, leaving many women in
poverty after the significant contribution to society of raising children. Most families are forced to
assume traditional roles of male bread winner and female carer, rather than equally sharing the
load of both paid and unpaid work.
August 27 is the focus of an ongoing campaign for the Equal Opportunity for Women in the
Workplace Agency (EOWA) to educate the community about the causes and solutions of pay equity.
This campaign includes working with over 7,000 Australian businesses each year on their workplace
programs, research and resource development and an ongoing awareness campaign. EOWA has
also developed a tool to help business audit and analyse issues of pay which is available free from
EOWA is a Federal Government statutory authority which administers the Equal Opportunity for Women in the
Workplace Act (1999). Employers of 100 people or more are required to report to the Agency on the initiatives they
take within their organisations to advance women in the workplace. EOWA works with employers to improve equal
opportunity outcomes for women in Australian workplaces.
[ENDS]
NEWS 
