Labour to set up a wages inquiry…
The Labour Party has announced it would set up a Commission of Inquiry into wages and collective bargaining if it is elected to Government.
David Cunliffe.
Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
It released its work and wages policy in Porirua, near Wellington on Wednesday afternoon.
Labour leader, David Cunliffe said the Commission of Inquiry would investigate workers’ and employers’ experiences with a view to developing labour market regulation, including fair wage-setting and quality workplace relationships.
“He said Labour would also raise the minimum wage to $16.25 an hour in April 2015 and get rid of 90-day trials.
“We kind of need to go back to first principles because it’s been a long time since the Emplyment Contracts Act, which was a disaster, then the Employment Relations Act, which made some improvements, but which has gone backwards since the change of government. We need a fresh look, we need to go back to first principles,” Mr Cunliffe said.
The Minister of Labour, Simon Bridges, said if it’s not based on increased productivity, simply paying people higher wages is a cost that gets passed on to New Zealanders as higher taxes, reduced competitiveness, inflation and fewer jobs.”
So much for the above report. I have posted on my FB page and also on David Cunliffe’s page that we should go back to before the Unemployment Contracts Act. The Clark Government only fiddled with the ECA when formulating its Employment Relations Act or the ERA as it is sometimes called.
I support its proposed increase in the minimum wage. It should be much higher of course.
