Darien Fenton
Associate Labour spokesperson
12 November 2010
Labour’s Associate spokesperson for labour issues, Darien Fenton says she is becoming increasingly concerned that the
government is planning to change the Minimum Wage Act.
“Labour Department officials confirmed to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee yesterday that they
have provided advice to the Minister on possible changes to the Act, but what is not clear is how far the Minister is
willing to go to reduce wage earners rights in favour of employers,” Darien Fenton said.
This follows on from Phillip Dickson winning an employment court case against Idea Services that he should be paid
minimum wages when working on ‘sleepovers’ overnight.”
Idea Services have appealed the decision, and the government has joined the appeal.
“Now both the Health Minister and the Labour Minister have refused to come clean on whether they will amend the Minimum
Wage Act so that these workers and others in similar situations can be paid less than the minimum hourly wage,” said
Darien Fenton.
“Yesterday in Parliament, Tony Ryall, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Labour, refused to give a straight answer in
the House, despite Department of Labour officials giving a clear indication that changes are on the way.
In a recent Official Information Act release about the issue the Minister of Labour withheld 10 documents in full,
including Cabinet Papers. Wage and salary earners, particularly those who are already struggling on the minimum wage
with the various cost of living increases that this government has imposed on them, deserve some certainty around what
this government is planning to do to their pay.
“Any change to the Minimum Wage Act that would allow employers to pay less than the current minimum wage of $12.75 an
hour would be a further cruel attack on the our most vulnerable workers from a government that seems intent on trampling
on the many in order to please the wealthy few,” Darien Fenton said.
ends