Green Party MP Sue Bradford today
congratulated the Government for increasing the minimum wage
for adult and youth workers and for lowering the age to
qualify for the minimum adult wage from 20 to 18.
"This
package of measures from the Government is an excellent and
much needed step to introduce some equity for our lowest
paid workers and the Greens are especially pleased with the
lowering of the age to qualify for the minimum adult wage
from 20 to 18 and changes to the minimum youth rate," she
said.
Ms Bradford said she personally believed the minimum
adult rate should be set at at least $8 per hour and she
urged New Zealanders to bear in mind that the new minimum
wage for adults equated to just 43 per cent of the average
hourly rate earned in New Zealand.
"However this is a
significant package of reforms and the Greens do not wish to
take anything away from the Government," she said. "Young
workers in particular will be much better off as a result of
these changes."
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