Public sector driving up employment costs

National Deputy Finance spokesman Bill English says new statistics show just much the Government is driving up employment costs.

“The Statistics NZ figures out today show non-wage benefits, like annual leave, holidays and superannuation, have been rising far faster in the public sector than in the private sector.

“Overall, non-wage costs have risen 8.7% in the public sector, compared to 5.2% in the private sector.

“This follows news that growth in wage and salary rates in the private sector, at 2.9% in the last year, are lagging far behind those in the public sector, at 4.1%.

“These latest figures are bad news for business and the taxpayers who have to pay for it all.

“These figures shows taxpayers in the non-government part of the economy are pouring money into the government sector, which is pumping up wages and benefits at a much faster rate than the private sector is.

“Labour needs to start containing these costs, not keep driving them up.”

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