Today’s announcement by the Government to increase the minimum wage from $14.75 to $15.25 per hour “is treading water” CTU President Richard Wagstaff said.
“Increasing the minimum wage by $0.50 to $15.25 an hour, or $610 a week (which is what a 40 hour week gross earnings would be), is simply not enough to sustain a family on,”
“The minimum wage should be enough to take your family to the doctor, buy nutritious groceries, replace your washing machine if it breaks down. The minimum wage should be a wage you can live on, not just exist on,”
“In 2009 working people were campaigning for a minimum wage of $15. It’s taken seven years to get to $15.25. $15 was a fair minimum wage in 2009, it’s not a fair wage in 2016,”
“New Zealand could have a fair minimum wage but the Government is choosing to increase the minimum wage by the minimum amount. Increasing the minimum wage is an opportunity to make real and tangible improvements in the lives of people who have the least. This is a missed opportunity for the Government,” Wagstaff said.