Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Survey confirms it’s time for a Living Wage

13 August 2013

Survey confirms it’s time for a Living Wage

The New Zealand General Social Survey: 2012, released today confirms it is time for a Living wage, says CTU President Helen Kelly.

Helen Kelly says “the survey shows that Kiwis are struggling with low wages and incomes. 48 percent of respondents feel they earn either not enough, or just enough to get by. It isn’t good enough that people’s incomes have them worrying that they have just enough to survive.”

Helen Kelly says that poverty is a huge issue causing hardship, and that low wages are a big contributor to this.

“Having a job is no longer a guarantee that you will be able to provide for the necessities of life for you and your family. Two out of five children in poverty are in families where one parent works. Low pay means working families are still struggling to provide food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, childcare, power and other necessities.”

“Paying workers a living wage is the best way to address the real poverty we are seeing in New Zealand at the moment. A living wage would also go a long way towards alleviating our growing inequality.”

Helen Kelly said “the survey also showed that over a third of us have a major problem with our house, and 13 percent rate their health as poor or fair. Incomes need to be able to cover adequate housing to proving safe and warm homes for families to be healthy. These survey results are shocking and at odds with the way we like to think of New Zealand, as the ‘Land of Plenty’.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“It’s time for a real commitment to decent jobs in New Zealand and lifting pay yet the Government has introduced legislation that will reduce wages for Kiwi workers even more.

Rather than cutting employment rights we need a living wage, improvements in collective bargaining coverage and a real acknowledgement that the huge inequalities of income we are currently seeing in New Zealand are unjustified and must be addressed.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.