Gap between minimum wage and Living Wage keeps growing

The growing gap between what families need to earn to live and what the Government sets as the minimum wage, shows the National Government isn’t doing enough to ensure all New Zealanders can get ahead, the Green Party said.

The Government today moved to increase the minimum wage by 50 cents to $15.25 an hour, while the Living Wage Movement announced the actual minimum amount a family needs to earn has increased by 55 cents to $19.80 an hour.

“While the National Government boasts that New Zealand’s economy is growing, it’s made sure that lower income Kiwis get less of the benefit of that than others,” Green Party workplace relations spokesperson Denise Roche said.

“New Zealand’s lowest paid third of workers have only received a one percent increase in their incomes since 2009, but the highest paid third of New Zealanders are now earning eight percent more.*

“Our economy is out of balance when incomes at the top rise so much faster than incomes at the bottom.

“The campaign for a $15-an-hour minimum wage began seven years ago. Seven years later $15.25 an hour is a long way from what families need to get by.

“Average rents in Auckland have reached $500 a week. Someone earning the new $15.25 minimum wage for 40 hours a week will only earn $610 a week before tax.

“Paying people the Living Wage is one of the easiest ways we can raise the standard of living in New Zealand.

“It’s great to see more and more businesses signing up to become Living Wage employers, but the Government needs to show leadership too.

“The Green Party would ensure everyone working in the core public service earns the living wage, and we’ll build that into government contractor wages as contracts come up for renewal over time,” Ms Roche said.

*Income data is from the 2015 Household Incomes Report published by the Ministry of Social Development. Average Auckland rent data is from Trademe.

Action

RENAME, REWRITE, and REJECT the Regulatory Standards Bill

Submit your suggested changes to the Regulatory Standards Bill! Tell us how you'd change the bill and we could take it to the House!

Action

Anniversary of the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill Referendum

If we were to legally regulate cannabis in Aotearoa, what kind of rules would you want to see around access, possession, use, regulations on sale, ...

Action

Save our Polytechs: Campaign Packs

Want to see more supports for our Polytechs? Use these resources to support the campaign!

Action

Save Our Polytechs Petition

Sign our petition today and join us in calling on the Minister for Vocational Education, Hon Penny Simmonds, to Save our Polytechs!

Action

Protect our tamariki - Sign the open letter

Every child in Aotearoa deserves to grow up with safety and stability, wrapped in aroha. Sign our open letter today and help make that a reality!

Action

Stop Growing Homelessness

Sign our petition asking Luxon and Bishop to take action to stop homelessness increasing in Aotearoa.

Action

Local Events

We have activists across Aotearoa / New Zealand who are working hard to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. This page lists upcomin...

Latest Workplace Relations and Safety Announcements

Story

Women to bear the brunt of sick pay changes

The Government’s move to strip back sick leave from part-time workers is yet another blow to women across Aotearoa.

Greens stand with our teachers in fight for fair pay

The Green Party supports the thousands of teachers striking for better pay and conditions today.

ERA changes hurt workers, pander to big business

The Green Party says proposed changes to the Employment Relations Act announced today by the Government will further undermine workers’ rights whil...

Concern over signs Govt will reduce sick leave for workers

The Green Party is calling on the Prime Minister to stand up for workers’ rights for once and rule out reducing sick leave entitlements.

Ban on engineered stone essential to protect workers

The Green Party has renewed its call for the Government to ban the use, supply, and manufacture of engineered stone products, as the CTU launches a...

Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards

The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the ...