I thought this economically illiterate movement had died in the 1970s. Obviously not:

"Thousands of people have gathered around Australia calling for better pay for women working in the community sector.

ASU secretary for New South Wales Sally McManus says the issue is now the subject of a historic test case being lodged with Fair Work Australia. She says women's work is not being properly valued, with pay 18 per cent less than the average pay for men, which puts the gap at the same level it was in 1972." Source.

What I do not get is if women are paid 18 percent less than men for equal work, would it not be in the interest for employers to fire their male employees and hire females to replace them? If, as they claim, they are doing equal work, then this would be a great way to increase profits. After all, is that not all the evil capitalist pigs care about?

The fact of the matter is that women who are paid less do not do equal work to men. They often take jobs that are more flexible, knowing that they will have to take time off to have a child at some point down the road. Employers also factor in maternity leave and the cost of finding a replacement during this time when deciding whom to employ and what wages to offer. Then you also have a disproportionately large number of women competing for the same, flexible jobs, driving down wages in those industries. Comparing wages between the sexes is apples and oranges. Any legislation which, as Sally McManus wants, 'values' women's labour correctly (translation: arbitrarily/politically), will have disastrous consequences for business and employment as measures such as this always do.