Andrew
LITTLE

Labour Spokesperson

16 April 2014 MEDIA STATEMENT

English confirms he has no plan to raise wages

Finance Minister Bill English has confirmed he has absolutely no plans to lift wages, Labour’s spokesperson on Labour Issues, Andrew Little says.

“Bill English told the Chamber of Commerce yesterday that workers could expect a rise in average income of $7500 over the next four years according to Treasury projections.

“If it wasn’t already obvious from the fact he made this prediction to a business audience, it was crystal clear in his answers to Parliament today that the Government has no measures to achieve this.

“It’s now obvious the minister’s promise should not be taken seriously after he could not point to a single thing the Government would do to ensure wages increased across the board.

“In fact, the Government’s actions will have the opposite effect. Its latest employment legislation is designed to make it harder for workers to negotiate pay rises.

“This is a minister who proudly boasted three years ago that one of New Zealand’s advantages was its low wage rates.

“These aren’t the words of a minister who is serious about helping the half of the workforce whose pay has been static or gone backwards over the last few years.

“Labour is committed to ensuring there are effective means for workers to negotiate fair pay and conditions, and to share in the wealth they help to generate,” Andrew Little says.

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