Sixteen and seventeen year-olds in a new job could be paid below the adult minimum wage for twice as long as before under a new employment relations policy announced by Prime Minister John Key.
This morning Key announced National would change the 'new entrants' wage for 16 and 17 year-olds, which allows employers to pay them 80% of the adult minimum wage for the first 200 hours, or three months of employment, to a 'starting out wage' which would extend the period to six months, from three months.
See the release from Key below:
Prime Minister and National Party leader John Key today announced the National Party’s employment relations policy, which includes a starting-out wage for young, first-time workers.
“A flexible and fair labour market is critical for building a stronger and more competitive economy, and creating more real jobs,” says Mr Key.
“National’s employment relations policy brings better balance to labour market rules. It encourages growth, creates jobs and protects workers’ rights.
“The starting-out wage will give some of our youngest and most inexperienced workers a much-needed foot in the door. It will provide them with valuable work experience that may not have otherwise been available to them.”
The starting-out wage will be set at 80 per cent of the adult minimum wage and three groups of people will be eligible:
- 16- and 17-year-olds in their first six months of work with a new employer.
- 18- and 19-year-olds entering the workforce after more than six months on a designated benefit.
- 16- to 19-year-old workers training in a recognised industry course involving at least 40 credits a year.
Mr Key also announced an extension to flexible working arrangements, improvements to collective bargaining and a review of constructive dismissal.
“National wants to see more people benefiting from flexible working arrangements. We’ll extend the right to request such arrangements to all employees, and allow employers to reach agreements without having to go through a formal process – saving time and money,” says Mr Key.
“We’ll also make changes to reduce bureaucracy and costs associated with collective bargaining, including removing the requirement to conclude a collective agreement.”
Mr Key says National will also take a close look at how allegations of constructive dismissal can be better managed.
“Altogether, these initiatives are part of National’s plan to give businesses the confidence they need to invest, grow and create higher-paying jobs.
“This comes on top of the good progress we’ve made in our first term of government, including establishing the successful 90-day trial for new employees, raising the minimum wage, improving the Holidays Act, reforming the personal grievance system and keeping the Hobbit movies in New Zealand.”
View National’s employment relations policy at: http://www.national.org.nz/
PDF_General/Employment_ Relations_Policy.pdf
See the Question and answer sheet from National below
THE ‘STARTING-OUT WAGE’
Background
Until 2008, 16- and 17-year-olds were eligible to be hired on a youth minimum wage that was set at 80 per cent of the adult minimum wage. This encouraged employers to take a risk and hire young workers with little or no experience.
In 2008, Labour abolished the youth minimum wage, in a move that research commissioned by the Department of Labour suggests has destroyed up to 9000 jobs for 16- and 17-year-olds.
Why introduce a starting-out wage?
We’re conscious the global recession significantly affected job opportunities for young people – especially in the 16-19 year age group. This is at a time when the removal of youth wages priced many young workers further out of the market.
Our starting-out wage will provide young people with the opportunity to earn money, gain skills and get the work experience they need.
How much will the starting-out wage be worth?
The starting-out wage will be set at a minimum of 80 per cent of the adult minimum wage.
Who will be eligible for the starting-out wage?
Three groups will be eligible for the starting-out wage:
What if the employee leaves and transfers to a different employer?
Those who are 16 and 17 years old, and who leave their employer after working for more than six months, will remain eligible to go back on the starting wage until they complete six months with their new employer.
Eligible 18- and 19-years-old who had been on a benefit and then completed six months work must be paid the full adult wage even if they transfer between employers.
IMPROVING FLEXIBLE WORKING ARRANGEMENTS
Background
Many workplaces already have flexible working arrangements, either formally or informally. A recent survey of employers with flexible work arrangements in place showed 87 per cent said those arrangements have had a positive impact.
However, formal agreements can be reached only after going through a formal process, and the formal request mechanism applies only to those with caring responsibilities.
How will National improve flexible working hours?
National will extend the right to request flexible working hours to all workers, and will allow flexible working agreements without invoking the formal request process. These changes will open up flexible working arrangements to all workers, and save employers time and money.
We will remove the existing tenure requirement (six months of continuous service) before an employee can make a formal request to their employer.
National will also increase awareness of these formal provisions, the benefits to business of flexible working arrangements, and encourage employers and workers to come to agreements that suit their circumstances.
Are flexible working arrangements costly to employers?
According to a recent Department of Labour survey, 76 per cent of employers who had flexible working arrangements in place said they incurred no costs. Of those who said they did incur some costs associated with flexible work arrangements, the majority said these costs were reasonable.
By allowing formal agreements to be reached without invoking the formal request process, our changes will reduce any costs to employers even further.
Will employers be forced to agree to flexible working arrangements?
No. There are various grounds on which an employer can turn down a formal request for flexible work, such as additional costs; detrimental effect to meet customer demands; detrimental impact on quality or performance; and the inability to reorganise work among existing staff; among others.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
What will removing the ‘requirement to conclude’ mean for collective bargaining negotiations?
The Employment Relations Act originally required collective bargaining to simply be done in good faith. This was later changed so that once negotiations begin, a collective agreement must be reached unless there are genuine reasons not to. This requirement can lead to protracted negotiations, even when agreement is unlikely to be reached.
The change has led to protracted negotiations in instances where agreement clearly isn't going to be reached and in many cases has resulted in workplace disruption and the deterioration of relationships between employers and unions.
National will return the Act to its original form, retaining the requirement to bargain in good faith, while removing the requirement to conclude a collective agreement. It is in the best interests of both unions and employers to settle negotiations quickly and fairly, and avoid workplace disruption and strike action.
How will removing the 30-day requirement assist employees?
Currently, employees have no choice but to accept the terms of the Collective Employment Agreement (CEA) in place for the union members of that particular workplace for their first 30 days of employment. Being unable to agree to lesser terms in some areas, in return for a higher base salary for example, means this can have the effect of lowering base salaries.
In the majority of instances, particularly in the private sector, employees immediately shift to Individual Employment Agreements (IEA) once 30 days are up. However, having already started work, their negotiating position is weakened. Removing the 30 days requirement will enable employees to agree to the exact terms and conditions they want from the outset, through either negotiating individually or joining the collective and becoming a union member. The choice is the employee's.
How will this benefit employers?
The most obvious benefit to employers is that it will reduce administration and compliance costs. Employers will only need to settle on the details of the employment agreement once, at the outset of the employment relationship.
There will be no follow-up required after 30 days and no need to work through the details of a second employment agreement when an employee chooses to go on an IEA. This will save time and paperwork.
Why should employers be able to opt out of multi-employer collective agreement (MECA) negotiations?
MECAs require employers to enter negotiations with their own employees, their competitors, and their competitors’ employees.
Employers should be able to decide whether or not a MECA is the right option in their circumstances. Enabling them to opt out of the negotiations before they begin will allow them to save their resources at the outset, should they already consider they are not best served by this form of agreement.
What will partial pay reductions for partial strikes mean in practice?
Where employees are refusing to do parts of their job, such as answering phone calls, responding to emails or completing paperwork, their employer can seek to reduce their pay to a level that reflects the work being done. This would involve making an application to a Department of Labour inspector, who would assess the circumstances and make a decision on what reduction in remuneration would be appropriate.
Why is this change needed?
Currently, employees can be present at work but do very little under the guise of a partial strike during bargaining negotiations. This can go on for months at a time and cause major disruptions. The only real means of response available to an employer is to suspend or lock out the employees. This is a big step and isn't preferred as it can damage the employment relationship and the relationship with the union. Allowing for partial pay reductions provides for a more measured response and will even up the negotiating positions.
CONSTRUCTIVE DISMISSAL
What is wrong with the law governing constructive dismissal?
Constructive dismissal is a real issue and it is important that people who have been hounded from their jobs have access to justice. However, evidence is emerging that the allegation of constructive dismissal is being used as a last resort in employment disputes, and frivolous cases are taking up the valuable time and resources of the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).
This ultimately harms the cases of those whose complaints are genuine, can damage the reputation of defendants, and reduces the efficacy of the ERA.
Constructive dismissal can be a difficult charge to defend even when the allegation is unfounded, as often the evidence involved is subjective.
What will National do to address this issue?
National will seek input from the Department of Labour and the employment law community on the best way to prevent constructive dismissal being used inappropriately in employment disputes, while maintaining access to justice for those who bring legitimate cases.
5 Comments
Reaction from ACT:
National’s employment relations policy announced today - which includes the extension of a youth wage - would be a step in the right direction and is to be commended, ACT Leader Don Brash and ACT Labour Spokesman Chris Simmons said today.
“Since Labour scrapped youth rates in 2008, youth unemployment has soared to unprecedented levels. This is why ACT has fought tooth and nail for the reinstatement of youth rates,” Dr Brash and Mr Simmons said.
“In 2010, ACT introduced a Bill to reinstate the youth minimum wage. National voted it down, calling it extreme and unnecessary. Today’s announcement is an admission that ACT was right all along,” Mr Simmons said.
“The tragedy is National’s failure to act quickly in addressing this issue has seen many teenagers forced to sit at home doing nothing or collecting a benefit.”
ACT Leader Don Brash said the past two days have seen major policy wins for ACT; first with Labour’s adoption of ACT’s superannuation policy to raise the age of eligibility for NZ Super to 67 and today with National’s announcement.
“If it were not for ACT having pushed so hard for these policies for so long, I seriously doubt these announcements would have ever occurred.
“It is good to know that in these tough economic times, both Labour and National are picking up on the sensible economic solutions that ACT has long been calling for,” Dr Brash said.
"ACT is the only party that does not want to borrow from future generations to satisfy voters of today. It is excellent that the other parties in Parliament have started listening,” Dr Brash and Mr Simmons said.
Reaction from Labour:
National’s tinkering with youth wage rates shows for the second time in two days that John Key hasn’t got the courage to tackle the real problems facing New Zealand, Labour’s Youth Affairs and Employment spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says.
“Youth unemployment has skyrocketed under National and now John Key wants those lucky enough to get a job to be paid less.
“You don’t improve the lot of our future generations by paying them less than an older person doing the same job. There is no justification whatsoever in doing it.
“It will do nothing to create jobs. Rather it is more likely to result in a new exodus of young Kiwis going overseas and will transfer the unemployment problem from one end of the age scale to the other,” Jacinda Ardern said.
“Yesterday John Key hid rather than debate Labour’s savings plans with Phil Goff. That’s just head in the sand stuff.
“Here we have another huge issue – youth unemployment – and what happens? The Prime Minister ignores that as well.
“All he is doing is extending the ‘starting out’ minimum wage period for young people from 200 hours or three months to six months. We already know that only a third of businesses employing 16 and 17 year olds pay these kids this rate.
“And we already know there is no evidence to say that work done by younger and new workers is of less value than the work done by others,” Jacinda Ardern said.
“Rather than making some bold plans to tackle what is a growing and hugely concerning problem - 24,000 under 20 year olds are not in employment, education or training - the Prime Minister has once again demonstrated National has no answers.
“What young people need are the skills to succeed in the job market and achieve higher incomes and better jobs. Creating high skill, high-wage jobs is the way to grow the economy and give our kids hope for the future, not cutting pay.
“Labour has plans to do exactly that, including giving employers the equivalent of the dole to employ apprentices, encouraging more at-risk teenagers into hands-on learning and creating additional apprenticeships.
“Labour is committed to opening up future opportunities for every young New Zealander and ensuring that every at-risk 15-19 year old will be either learning or earning by the end of our first term,” Jacinda Ardern said.
"Labour is committed to opening up future opportunities for every young New Zealander and ensuring that every at-risk 15-19 year old will be either learning or earning by the end of our first term,”........err is this the same "committed" as the one cunny used in 09 ....
Rat's I can't find the post from Alex that exposed cunny on committments re the pension age... found it:
from Alex T
Cunliffe in 2009 (HT Farrar) http://www.labour.org.nz/news/labour-will-keep-super-it-will-national
Labour is committed to keeping both the current age of eligibility and entitlement level for New Zealand Superannuation, Opposition Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe said today.
“Labour is committed to retaining the age of eligibility at 65 and entitlement at 66% of the average wage,” David Cunliffe said.
Reaction from the Greens:
National plan to return youth rates by stealth, Green Party youth affairs spokesperson Gareth Hughes said today.
National’s just released policy on the youth minimum wage will double the time workers can be on the current training wage to six months. The rate would apply to 18 and 19 year olds entering the workforce after being on a designated benefit.
“National have extended the definition of a youth to 18 or 19 year olds,” said Mr Hughes.
“This part of the policy will have a massive effect on 18 or 19 year old students who receive the odd week or so of a benefit and then get work over the holidays.
“This is not only an attack on young workers but also on students who rely on income from holiday jobs to assist them in their studies.
“In the past, all 18 year olds received an adult wage,” said Mr Hughes.
“Under National those a few weeks shy of their 20th birthday could be receiving youth rates.
“National’s employment policy is not going to increase youth employment – what it is going to do is take money out of young workers pockets.
“National is wrong on youth rates as a solution to the youth unemployment crisis,” said Mr Hughes
“The answer is creating jobs and investing in training and education opportunities.”
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