BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope said Covid-19 had reduced the earning ability of many firms and now was not the right time for new costs to be loaded on to business. “While New Zealand’s economy is looking better than predicted with [Thursday’s] figures from StatsNZ showing exceptionally strong growth in the last quarter, we should remember that this growth has occurred in the context of a massive fiscal stimulus.
Mandy Te/Stuff
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood says the minimum wage increase will mean a pay rise for about 175,500 New Zealanders. “New Zealand is not out of the woods yet on Covid, and we cannot assume this kind of growth will continue, given the continued uncertain global outlook.
Whanau arrive at marae for the anniversary of the Whakaari White Island tragedy on December 9.
The Government has ordered an independent review of WorkSafe’s oversight of Whakaari White Island tours following the eruption that killed 22 people. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood made the announcement on Friday when he released the first stage of a targeted review of adventure activity regulations identifying serious gaps in WorkSafe’s enforcement regime. Wood said the Government was committed to strengthening regulatory oversight and audit processes in the wake of the Whakaari White Island tragedy, and further changes would be made next year after public consultation.
File photo.
Photo: GNS Science
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood has announced the first review findings in the wake of the Whakaari / White Island eruption.
He said the regulator needs to improve monitoring and enforcement of adventure activities, and the current third party certification may need to be reconsidered in the long term.
Wood says the sector is performing reasonably well, but they will begin consulting on how to further improve safety next year.
Whaakari erupting on 9 December 2019.
Photo: Supplied / Lillani Hopkins
The review noted improvement of safety after new adventure activity rules came in in 2014, that nearly all adventure activities involve natural hazard risks and operators could be better supported to identify and manage the risks through changing the safety audit standard and certification scheme, WorkSafe should play a more active role in the sector after prioritising other industries, and the current third party certification sc
Workplace minister Michael Wood says minimum wage hike will boost local economy
16 Dec, 2020 08:46 PM
3 minutes to read
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood. Photo / RNZ, Richard Tindiller
RNZ
From April 1, 2021, the minimum wage will rise to $20 - up from $18.90. The boost is expected to lift the incomes of almost 200,000 people.
For someone working 40 hours on minimum wage, the boost means $44 extra in the bank each week.
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood said the rise would boost wages across the economy by $216 million.
Advertisement
He said signalling the minimum wage increases over three years helped give businesses much-needed certainty.
Minimum wage to be raised to $20 per hour from 1 April 2021
Minimum wage to be raised to $20 per hour from 1 April 2021 Thursday, December 17, 2020 IWK Bureau
The Government is confirming it will deliver on its commitment to raise the minimum wage to $20 per hour from 1 April 2021, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood announced today.
Michael Wood said as we recover and rebuild from COVID-19, the Government is committed to supporting New Zealanders by raising wages.
“There are many Kiwis who earn the minimum wage that have gone above and beyond in our fight against COVID. I think everyone agrees those who served us so well during lockdown – including supermarket workers, cleaners, and security guards – deserve a pay rise.