The Court of Appeal has reserved its decision in a case considering the income of workers in the aged care sector.
Terra Nova Homes and Care is appealing against an Employment Court decision which found that low wages can be considered discriminatory against women, even if some men earn the same amount.
The Employment Court case was taken by an employee of Terra Nova Homes and Care, who claimed the company discriminated against her because she was a woman.
Business New Zealand, the Human Rights Commission and the Aged Care Association were among those represented at the hearing.
A lawyer for the Council of Trade Unions said the Employment Court was right in finding gender discrimination existed in pay rates in the aged care sector.
But Terra Nova's lawyer said it was untenable that an individual employer should have to shoulder the burden of what's said to be a systemic problem in the aged care sector.
