Those receiving the minimum wage will not see an increase in wages after Labour Party member David Clark's bid to raise the wage by $1.50 failed to pass its first reading in Parliament.
Parliamentarians voted 61-59 against the private members bill to raise the minimum wage from $13.50 to $15.
Tauranga MP Simon Bridges thinks the vote is the right result.
He says to increase the minimum wage up at this time would put a lot of young people out of jobs.
'There are a number of small businesses who aren't making money and they wouldn't be able to afford higher wages.”
'I have talked to business owners in Tauranga and they have told me in the past that they would lay workers off if the minimum wage went up.”
Simon says he is not opposed to minimum wages increases, but says now is not the right time.
'When the world economy is in a pretty fragile state now is a ludicrous time to be putting forward such a bill.”
4 comments
$13.50 NZ
Posted on 20-09-2012 11:10 | By Colleen Spiro
So does it actually matter that the people who get off their bums and go to work, can afford to live.
untitled
Posted on 20-09-2012 14:05 | By traceybjammet
an hourly rate will make no difference take home pay is whats important. In Oz on 20.dollars an hour my take-homw pay was 418.00 in NZ my take home pay is 455.20 nett on a much lower hourly rate this is for a 40hour week. Wages will go up here as time goes on its taxes and where government spends its money that are the important things
see the real hourly rates in the real world
Posted on 20-09-2012 14:12 | By traceybjammet
For junior employees, the minimum rates are: Under 16 years of age $5.87 At 16 years of age $7.55 At 17 years of age $9.22 At 18 years of age $10.90 At 19 years of age $13.17 At 20 years of age $15.59. For apprentices, the rates are: Year 1 of apprenticeship $10.22 Year 2 of apprenticeship $12.08 Year 3 of apprenticeship $14.87 Year 4 of apprenticeship $17.65.
Bang - ouch!
Posted on 22-09-2012 18:03 | By The Tomahawk Kid
Some sense at last! Increasing the minimum wage does more harm than good. being forced to pay higher wages makes prices increase, Makes employers less likely to hire unskilled staff, Makes employers chose higher skilled workers over unskilled, uneducated prospects. Bang - ouch! Bang! - Ouch! Bang! - Ouch! Stupid is what stupid does.
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