Latest news with #NZCTUTeKauaeKaimahi
Scoop
23-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
NZ Government Out Of Touch On Employment Rights
The commitment at the 113th International Labour Organization conference to develop a binding Convention for securing decent work in the platform economy shows how disconnected and out of touch the New Zealand government is when it comes to employment rights. 'This decision is a huge step towards establishing internationally recognised labour rights for digital platform workers,' said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges. 'This is the mandate for much-needed regulation of digital labour platforms and by doing so, ensuring that innovation is not achieved at the expense of workers' rights. 'It's really telling, that while the international community comes together to support platform workers, Brooke van Velden has introduced a new Employment Relations Amendment Bill that will undermine the rights of those very workers in Aotearoa. 'Her Bill, which intends to misclassify workers as contractors and remove their legal right to challenge their employment status in court, is a severe undermining of worker rights. It is completely out of touch, and the Bill must be voted down', said Ansell-Bridges.
Scoop
18-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Economic Growth Still In The Hole Dug In 2024
Data released by Stats NZ today shows that the economy grew on a quarterly basis by 0.8% but fell on an annual basis by 1.1% said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. 'This is positive data for the first quarter of this year, but the fact that the economy is about the same size it was in March 2023 tells you that essentially we have had almost zero economic growth (0.3%) over the past two years.' 'GDP per capita ($52,872) is now lower than it was in March 2022 ($53,100). It took another fall on an annual basis of 2.4%. There were falls in 11 of the 16 sectors of the economy annually – led by construction (-9.3%), wholesale trade (-3.6%) , and business services (-2%). Both goods producing industries and service industries saw contraction this year.' 'The data shows that workers incomes aren't keeping up with profits. Stats NZ shows that compensation of employees rose 1.5% this quarter before inflation. Gross operating surplus and gross mixed incomes (a broad measure of profit) rose 2%. Employee compensation was revised down in the December quarter to -0.2%.' 'The lack of business confidence in the economy is present in the business investment data. Business investment fell this year. Non-residential building investment fell 2.9%. Transport equipment purchases fell 6%. Households are feeling it to, with purchase of durable goods being lower than they were in December 2023,' Renney said. 'This data shows us how far we fell over the past year in economic terms. The growth in GDP this quarter is welcome – but the economy is still smaller than at the election in real terms. With more recent data suggesting that the economy is struggling to grow, there is a real danger that we return to slow, no, or negative growth.' 'It's time for the Government to realise that its economic growth plan isn't working. There are 23,000 more people on Jobseekers this year. 48% of workers in New Zealand got a pay cut in real terms. Business and consumer confidence are at levels associated with recessions. One quarter of data shouldn't blind the government of the need for change.'
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Reverse Robin Hood Budget Steals From Working People
Budget 2025 takes $12.8bn from low-income, female dominated workforces to prop up the Government's failed economic policies, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. 'The Government has promised this would be a growth budget, yet it has effectively cut the wages of low-income women workers. We know that one of the best ways to stimulate economic growth is by lifting wages – the Government is doing the opposite,' said Renney. 'The figures released today also showed that the number of people on Jobseekers Support is rising, and higher than forecast just last year. Real wage growth is lower than forecast last year – the Treasury itself says the Budget 'lowers wage growth'. This is a Budget that is taking working people backwards. 'The Budget delivers more cuts to investment, including real terms cuts to early childhood education funding. New funding for learning support is largely being delivered by cutting funding from other programmes in education. Māori Development programmes have been cut significantly, as has funding from our media, culture, and heritage institutions. 'Promises made in health aren't provided with new funding and the destruction of the pay equity process will mean we will continue to lose health workers to Australia, putting further stress on the system. 'Forecasts show we will continue to miss our child poverty targets over the next four years, and we will see thousands of families loose essential income due to cuts to Best Start and Working for Families. The Government is taking money from unemployed 18- and 19-year-olds, while investing nothing in action on climate change. 'Overall, this is a Budget that works by taking away from some of the poorest people in New Zealand, to fund tax cuts for multinationals, increased investment in corrections, the failed charter schools project, and more spending on defence. 'This is a Budget with its priorities all wrong – and working people will be paying the price,' said Renney.
Scoop
07-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Unemployment Data Shows Real Weakness Behind The Headline Rate
Unemployment data released today by Statistics New Zealand shows ongoing weakness in the labour market, with falling employment, falling hours of work, and nearly half of all workers getting a pay rise less than inflation, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. 'While the unemployment rate number stayed at 5.1%, the number of people working full-time fell by 45,000 while the number working part-time increased by 25,000. People can't find all the work they need to get by,' said Renney. 'This data demonstrates that there are now 37,000 more unemployed people than at the last election. Māori unemployment is now at 10.5% and Pacific unemployment is at 10.8%. Employment fell in manufacturing, construction, retail, education, and health care. There are now nearly 3 million fewer hours being worked in the economy. 'The weakness of current economic growth is also being reflected in the wage data. Total weekly gross earnings rose by less than inflation at 2.4% annually. 41% of workers saw no pay rise at all. It's clear that workers are struggling to get the wage increases they need to keep up with the cost of living. 'Youth unemployment continues to rise. There are now 70,700 15–24-year-olds unemployed and 96,600 are not in employment, education or training. There is no plan to help these younger workers, and they are bearing the brunt of employment change. 'Without changes to the Government's economic approach, things will likely get worse. In 2022 New Zealand was sixth in the OECD rankings for unemployment. We are now 18th. 'The Budget this month will likely see forecasts of unemployment rising in the future. It's time to change course and deliver policies that ensure good work and fair pay for all,' said Renney.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Govt Spending Decision Signals Crisis And Cuts
Press Release – NZCTU $1.3bn in operating allowance isnt enough to pay for cost pressures in health alone ($1.55bn). There is no money for cost pressures in education and other public services, or proposed defence spending. This is a Budget that will be built on cuts … The decision to nearly halve the amount of new investment being made in the next Budget signals that this Government doesn't care about the users of public services, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. '$1.3bn in operating allowance isn't enough to pay for cost pressures in health alone ($1.55bn). There is no money for cost pressures in education and other public services, or proposed defence spending. This is a Budget that will be built on cuts to essential services,' said Renney. 'The fact that this announcement has come only three weeks away from Budget suggests that there is no agreement around the cabinet table about what government should be doing. 'We now know that we are looking at a Budget where departments will be asked to make further rounds of deep cuts – just after cuts at Budget 2024. 'The Minister of Finance is blaming borrowing for the need to make cuts. At the last Budget the government borrowed $12bn to pay for tax giveaways, including to landlords and tobacco companies. 'This decision to cut investment is a choice. When child poverty rises, as it currently is, it's a choice to not increase support. When we can't support people losing their job, that's a choice. This Government's choices are now very clear. 'We implore the Government to rethink this decision. It doesn't help solve the public investment gap that already exists. It doesn't help tackle unmet need in health and education. It's time for a better approach, and to rebuild our public services,' said Renney.
