Living Wage to rise in September

Living Wage to increase to $23.65 an hour from 1 September.

Workers on the Living Wage are set to gain an extra 90 cents an hour from 1 September this year when the Living Wage increases to $23.65 an hour.

That will include those workers contracted on a regular and ongoing basis to, or working for, more than 300 accredited employers.

Being accredited means the business must pay all directly and indirectly employed employees at least the Living Wage.

“We believe all workers deserve a Living Wage and we’ve found over 300 employers around the country willing to join us by paying their staff and contractors this rate ensuring their workers can afford the necessities of life,” says Living Wage spokesperson Felicia Scherrer.

The rate for the Living Wage is calculated by Family Centre Social Policy Research Unit coordinator and lead researcher, Charles Waldegrave.

The rate of $23.65 is 68 percent of the average hourly earnings in New Zealand, which were $34.76 for the year to June 2021.

“It’s important to ensure that our lowest paid workers can receive the benefits of economic growth, and that they are also supported to cover cost of living. This year’s increment of 90 cents per hour provides a 4 percent increase on June 2020,” says Charles Waldegrave.

Accredited Living Wage Employers range from large organisations such as banks and law firms, to smaller businesses producing anything from coffee to chocolate, both social and environmental agencies.

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