The minimum wage for workers was raised on April 1st by 50c an hour to $15.75 but this is still not enough for many people to live on. A living wage of $20.20 for 2017 is supported by Wellington City Council, and this year, the council aims to pay their cleaners a living wage. Other staff who are on wages will get a living wage the following year or years.
The living wage is promoted by the New Zealand Family Centre Social Policy Unit. This is thought to be enough for a family of four (two working adults and 2 children) to pay for the necessities of life like food, transport, rent or mortgage for a home, and childcare.
Currently other City Councils are considering how they can pay a living wage. For example, the Christchurch City Council has about 900 staff who are paid wages rather than a salary. Paying all these people a living wage would add more than $1m to the council’s budget. The extra money has to come from rates paid by Christchurch residents, or some staff would have to lose their jobs.
While councils might set an example, there are many other employers who could think about paying a living wage. This week, there was a strike by some workers for Restaurant Brands wanting a 10c an hour increase for the next 3 years. This was refused by the company.
New Zealand is like many other western countries which has a big gap between the rich and the poor. More and more people are living in poverty while CEOs in big companies are paid millions of dollars.
Vocabulary
• promoted (v) – here it means they believe in it and want others to support it
• necessity (n- usually non-count) from necessary (adj); necessities (n. countable) things that are necessary for living
• salary (n) – an annual amount, a proportion is paid every two weeks or once a month; wages are paid weekly
• rates (n) – property tax
• set an example (idiomatic phrase) – behave in a way that should be copied
• a strike (n) – refuse to work because they want more pay or better conditions of work
• poverty (n, non-count) from poor (adj)
Question
What do you consider to be the necessities of life?