Youth Union Movt appalled at 25c rise

CTU Youth Union Movement media release
27 January 2010

Youth Union Movement appalled at 25c rise and age discrimination in minimum wage

The New Zealand youth union movement, Stand Up, is disgusted with the Government’s failure to properly assist the lowest paid in the New Zealand economy by only raising the minimum wage by 25 cents, and is urging it to remove the trainee/new entrant rates.

Stand Up convener James Sleep says such a low increase shows the Government’s lack of focus toward helping those who have been hurt the most by the recession and rising living costs.

“An increase in the minimum wage of 25c is an insult to the lowest paid in our economy. Young people are over represented in the group of workers that earn the minimum wage and are facing increases to food, rent and power much higher than inflation. $10 a week simply doesn’t cut it.”

Sleep has also called on the Government’s to remove the training/new entrant rate. With such a low increase to the minimum wage, the training rate is simply not sustainable. We have never supported it and it is simply unfair. Young people, such as apprentices should not be discriminated against on the basis of their age.”

Stand Up believes the Government’s focus is in the wrong place and calls on it to put itself in the shoes of a low paid worker. “This announcement shows that the Government is out of touch with working New Zealanders, and especially young workers,” concluded Sleep.

ENDS

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