58039 (2024). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children

58039 (2024). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children: Have all Oranga Tamariki social service providers who employ social workers been paid the Pay Equity Settlement awarded to them in 2023?

Hon Karen Chhour: I am advised the five providers that were part of the 2022 social work pay equity settlement and the 197 Oranga Tamariki-funded providers who were part of the 2023 extension of the settlement were paid. I am further advised by Oranga Tamariki that not all Oranga Tamariki social service providers who employ social workers have been paid the pay equity settlement awarded to them in 2023. There are some Oranga Tamariki-funded social service providers that employ social workers not included in the 2022 settlement or the 2023 extension, which was led by the Public Service Commission. These providers did not receive pay equity funding in 2023/24 financial year.