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If re-elected, Labor promises to give government cleaners, caterers and security guards a raise at the minimum wage.
Labor policy would see that major public sector agencies must pay contractors a living wage before extending the rule to the broader state service, including district health boards, “as the Covid recovery allows.”
The “living wage” is currently $ 21.10 per hour, $ 2.20 above the minimum wage, which is $ 18.90 per hour.
Labor Relations Minister Andrew Little, who launched the policy in Auckland with Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford, said it could mean almost an additional $ 100 a week for a contract worker currently on minimum wage.
They said the government had an important role to play as an employer by “setting an example of fair labor practices and good conditions.”
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Labor estimated that thousands of workers were likely to benefit from the policy: 400 security guards received the living wage when it was implemented among the guards hired at the Ministry of Social Development.
The policy would cost the government an additional $ 18 million a year.
“Covid-19 has shed light on the many workers who do important work in our community but are not well paid for it.
“We can greatly improve wages and ease financial stress for hardworking New Zealanders,” Little said.
He said the policy was based on the government’s move in 2018 to pay all basic public service personnel at least a living wage.
Twyford called contract workers the “backbone” of public service and said that paying them a living wage was “a win for everyone.”
“These are the workers who clean the office late at night, start work early to attend conferences, and stay out in the cold making sure our offices are safe for everyone. The work of hired employees helps all of us do our job.
“Paying contract workers a living wage will be a huge boost to their household income and improve life for them and their families.
“This money will be spent in the community, which means it will benefit the overall economy at the same time.”
As current contracts expire, utility agencies will need to guarantee the payment of a living wage as part of the new contracts. The Labor Party expected the policy to be fully implemented in the next legislature.
Living Wage is calculated independently each year by the New Zealand Family Center’s Social Policy Unit and reflects the basic expenses of workers and their families, such as food, transportation, housing and childcare.
Central government agencies include:
Crown Law Office, Department of Conservation, Department of Corrections, Department of Internal Affairs, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Office of Education Review, Office of Government Communications Security, Internal Revenue, Department of Territorial Information, Ministry of Culture and New Zealand Heritage, Ministry of Pacific Peoples, Ministry of Primary Industries, Ministry of Women, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, New Zealand Police, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Education, Ministry Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Maori Development, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Transport, New Zealand Customs Service, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service , Oranga Tamariki – Ministry of Children, Fraud Office Gra You see, Public Service Commission, New Zealand Statistics, Te Kāhui Whakamana Rua Tekau mā Iwa – Pike River Recovery Agency, The Treasury.
