29 Jun 2017

Labour would boost minimum wage to $16.50

3:48 pm on 29 June 2017

The Labour Party promises to lift the minimum wage and soften the government's 90-day trial period for employees, if it is elected to government.

Andrew Little last week described the Todd Barclay affair as an absolute disgrace and shambles.

Andrew Little. Photo: RNZ / Jane Patterson

Labour leader Andrew Little announced the policy this afternoon, and said the changes would promote a fairer deal and prevent a race to the bottom.

Labour would boost the minimum wage to $16.50 an hour, he said, and replace the 90-day trial with a trial period that allows recourse for workers who have been unjustly dismissed.

Fair pay agreements would also be introduced to set employment conditions across an industry.

Mr Little said the changes would prevent the small number of bad employers undercutting good employers and improve working conditions.

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