John Key said no to Pizza Hutt worker minimum wage

Sanjay the Pizza Hutt worker who delivered John Key’s pizza and told him that he thinks John Key’s idea of a 90 day trial period is a good idea, should know that Prime Minister John Key voted against him getting minimum wage last year, says Darien Fenton, Labour’s Associate Labour issues spokesperson.

“Last year, the National Party voted down my members’ bill (Minimum Wage and Remuneration Amendment Bill) which would have ensured that so-called “independent contractors” like Sanjay would have received at least the minimum wage”, says Ms Fenton.

“Pizza Hutt employs the majority of their delivery drivers as independent contractors. During the Select Committee process of the bill, we heard from delivery drivers like Sanjay, who were employed as "contract drivers," who work up to ten hours on end, on well below what employees would receive as minimum wage.

“Labour continues to be concerned that there are large numbers of workers like Sanjay who are not entitled to even the basic minimums the law provides because they are employed as contractors, even when their work is clearly dependent.

“It’s a pity John Key wasn’t more sympathetic to workers like Sanjay when he had a chance to really make a difference,” says Darien Fenton.

ENDS

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