The Government has signed a pay equity settlement with 329 early childhood and primary education support workers.
They're currently paid between $16.77 and $19.87 an hour, but some will see their pay boosted by up to 30 percent.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said: "Almost all education support workers are women, and they do vital work helping young children with severe learning and behavioural challenges to learn. I am delighted to say they will finally be paid fairly for the crucial work they do."
The deal will boost support workers' minimum hourly rate to $21.67 and will introduce a new top step of $24.73 for those with four to nine years' experience.
Support workers with more than a decade's experience will move to a new pay rate of $25.70 an hour.
"This is about fairness. All the parties of Government have committed to pay equity for all women in New Zealand, and to making it fairer and easier for groups of women to bring pay equity claims," Ms Ardern said.
The settlement between the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) and the Ministry of Education is expected to be ratified within a month after support workers have voted on it.
Newshub.
