A Move Towards Equality for Youth Workers…
Currently employees under the age of 18 are paid 80% of the adult minimum wage. The Minimum Wage (Abolition of Age Discrimination) Amendment Bill originally aimed to end age-based discrimination in employment by removing minimum wage rates set by reference to the age of workers. Recently, despite opposition from the National, ACT and Maori parties, MPs agreed to amendments to the Bill that would see employees under the age of 18 having the right to be paid the adult minimum wage after they had worked 200 hours or been employed for three months, whichever is the lesser.
To reflect the recent amendments, it has also been recommended that the Bill's current title be changed to the "Minimum Wage (New Entrants) Amendment Bill". If passed into law, it would amend the Minimum Wage Act 1983. The Bill is expected back in Parliament this month for its final vote.
We will keep you up to date on developments. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the Bill, or any other Parliamentary developments that may concern you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Erin Davies
Partner
t: +64 9 979 2177
m: +94 29 622 2300
e: Erin Davies
Last updated: 4 September 2007 |
