16 Mar 2011

Cooks task force calls for higher minimum wage

4:04 pm on 16 March 2011

An economic task force in the Cook Islands is recommending the government raise the minimum wage, lower interest rates and abolish outer islands' taxes.

The ideas are being put forward for consideration in the next budget.

The taskforce says abolishing outer island company and income taxes would foster economic activity.

It also says outer islands development zones should be created.

The taskforce wants a higher minimum wage and says an ongoing grievance for the commercial sector is the cost of borrowing and it says the government should ease this burden.